A 30-year-old Benbrook man was killed early Sunday morning after his small sports utility vehicle crashed into a barrier on a bridge on North Collins Street and fell into a creekbed, police said.
A construction worker found Oscar Saenz's body inside a 2008 Nissan Rogue in a dry creekbed below Collins Street in far north Arlington at about 9 a.m. Sunday. Witnesses last saw Saenz leaving a nightclub, just north of the wreck, seven hours earlier, police said.
Saenz was driving south in the northbound lanes of North Collins, just south of Brown Boulevard, when he struck a concrete barrier that is connected to a bridge, said Arlington police spokeswoman Tiara Ellis Richard.
His vehicle then went off the bridge and landed below Collins Street, Richard said.
Pending toxicology results will determine if alcohol played a role in the death, Richard said.
This is the 30th traffic fatality in Arlington this year and nearly half of them involved drugs or alcohol, according to Arlington police.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Kinky Not Seeking Top Spot
After more than a year of planning a second run for the Governor's Mansion, humorist Kinky Friedman has dropped out of the governor's race today.
Friedman plans to run for agriculture commissioner instead, the same decision made earlier this month by East Texas rancher Hank Gilbert.
Friedman announced the decision after weekend meetings with the two other candidates in the governor's race: Houston Mayor Bill White and haircare magnate Farouk Shami.
"This has never been about me; this has always been about what is best for the people of Texas and the Democratic Party," Friedman said in a press release. "After my visit with Bill my mind was made up. There is a clear alternative for the people of Texas, and today I'm changing courses with a happy heart. I've determined that the best way that I can help the ticket and serve Texas families is by switching to the Ag Commissioner's race. Former Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Jim Hightower explained how much the office does and how much potential there is to do more."
From Friedman's release, he said he plans "to focus on revamping the position of Agriculture Commissioner to increase the number of farmer co-ops, improve production of biofuels and bioenergy, expand the market for Texas agriculture products, and solidify the future of Texas agriculture through numerous programs, including a doubling of the cap for the Young Farmer Loan Program and defending farmers against eminent domain."
Friedman said he also plans to set up at least one animal rescue facility in each county.
"We're going to shake things up and show folks what the office can be if you have someone there who actually cares about the job," Friedman said.
Friedman has worked in recent months to convince Democrats he is one of them despite running for governor in 2006 as an independent.
Friedman plans to run for agriculture commissioner instead, the same decision made earlier this month by East Texas rancher Hank Gilbert.
Friedman announced the decision after weekend meetings with the two other candidates in the governor's race: Houston Mayor Bill White and haircare magnate Farouk Shami.
"This has never been about me; this has always been about what is best for the people of Texas and the Democratic Party," Friedman said in a press release. "After my visit with Bill my mind was made up. There is a clear alternative for the people of Texas, and today I'm changing courses with a happy heart. I've determined that the best way that I can help the ticket and serve Texas families is by switching to the Ag Commissioner's race. Former Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Jim Hightower explained how much the office does and how much potential there is to do more."
From Friedman's release, he said he plans "to focus on revamping the position of Agriculture Commissioner to increase the number of farmer co-ops, improve production of biofuels and bioenergy, expand the market for Texas agriculture products, and solidify the future of Texas agriculture through numerous programs, including a doubling of the cap for the Young Farmer Loan Program and defending farmers against eminent domain."
Friedman said he also plans to set up at least one animal rescue facility in each county.
"We're going to shake things up and show folks what the office can be if you have someone there who actually cares about the job," Friedman said.
Friedman has worked in recent months to convince Democrats he is one of them despite running for governor in 2006 as an independent.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Workers Injured at Stadium
ARLINGTON -- Two workers were injured at Cowboys Stadium on Thursday morning when they fell from the roof to a lower level, said Tiara Richard Ellis, Arlington police spokeswoman.
An Arlington Fire Department spokesman said the men were doing maintenance on the top hatch of the stadium when they slipped.
He said the workers were not wearing safety harnesses and described their injuries as severe.
The accident happened about 7 a.m., fire officials said.
The men fell an estimated 50 to 75 feet, officials said. The injuries included broken bones, said Don Crowson, Arlington assistant fire chief. But the accident could have been much worse -- the roof rises some 300 feet above the ground.
"It's a cold morning. There was ice on the roof. It's a very dangerous and slippery environment up there," Crowson said. "They were lucky they hit the bottom of the roof and didn't fall off."
The most-seriously injured man was transported to a hospital by air ambulance about 8:50 a.m.
Members of the Arlington Fire Department's technical rescue team could be seen on the top of the stadium during the rescue operation.
"Every rescue is dangerous for firefighters. It's a dangerous environment up there but our people are well trained. They used safety equipment to keep themselves and the patients safe," Crowson said.
Crowson said the men were lowered from where they fell.
Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said investigators were at the stadium Thursday morning looking into the incident.
The stadium, which opened for the 2009 season, has had its share of accidents, including one fatality. An electrician was killed in June 2008 when he touched a high-voltage line.
Since work began on the $1.1 billion stadium project in April 2006, 175 incidents had been reported through May 2008, an official with general contractor Manhattan Construction said last year.
Those incidents included minor scratches, broken bones, and eye irritation.
Manhattan initiated new safety procedures in May 2008 after a sharp increase in the accidents. The company was in a partnership with OSHA to provide extra safety training for employees.
OSHA investigated two previous major accidents at the site. In January 2007, a worker fell through a hole, and the contractor, Capform, was fined $10,000.
Later that year, a man was hit in the back with a crane hook. OSHA found no violations but issued the employer, also Capform, a warning letter.
Staff writer Susan Schrock contributed to this report, which contains material from the Star-Telegram archives.
An Arlington Fire Department spokesman said the men were doing maintenance on the top hatch of the stadium when they slipped.
He said the workers were not wearing safety harnesses and described their injuries as severe.
The accident happened about 7 a.m., fire officials said.
The men fell an estimated 50 to 75 feet, officials said. The injuries included broken bones, said Don Crowson, Arlington assistant fire chief. But the accident could have been much worse -- the roof rises some 300 feet above the ground.
"It's a cold morning. There was ice on the roof. It's a very dangerous and slippery environment up there," Crowson said. "They were lucky they hit the bottom of the roof and didn't fall off."
The most-seriously injured man was transported to a hospital by air ambulance about 8:50 a.m.
Members of the Arlington Fire Department's technical rescue team could be seen on the top of the stadium during the rescue operation.
"Every rescue is dangerous for firefighters. It's a dangerous environment up there but our people are well trained. They used safety equipment to keep themselves and the patients safe," Crowson said.
Crowson said the men were lowered from where they fell.
Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said investigators were at the stadium Thursday morning looking into the incident.
The stadium, which opened for the 2009 season, has had its share of accidents, including one fatality. An electrician was killed in June 2008 when he touched a high-voltage line.
Since work began on the $1.1 billion stadium project in April 2006, 175 incidents had been reported through May 2008, an official with general contractor Manhattan Construction said last year.
Those incidents included minor scratches, broken bones, and eye irritation.
Manhattan initiated new safety procedures in May 2008 after a sharp increase in the accidents. The company was in a partnership with OSHA to provide extra safety training for employees.
OSHA investigated two previous major accidents at the site. In January 2007, a worker fell through a hole, and the contractor, Capform, was fined $10,000.
Later that year, a man was hit in the back with a crane hook. OSHA found no violations but issued the employer, also Capform, a warning letter.
Staff writer Susan Schrock contributed to this report, which contains material from the Star-Telegram archives.
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