BERTRAM, Texas — Everyone seems to know everyone in the small town of Bertram.
That’s why the death of a beloved restaurant worker at El Rancho, and her young daughter, has hit the community especially hard.
The crash happened Tuesday on State Highway 29 near Bertram in Burnet County. Police said Patricia Torres Jimenez was waiting to turn into the laundromat when her car was rear-ended before eventually being pushed into a ditch.
“It was a nasty accident. It was hard. That’s definitely a hot spot for accidents,” said Samantha Reyes, who worked with Torres Jimenez. “She is not the first person to die in that same situation, just waiting to do some laundry … feels so senseless to all of us.”
Reyes said she would be greatly missed.
“She was the center of the party,” Reyes said. “She lit up the room when she walked in. Her daughter was not even two and could tell she had that same personality.”
A renewed call for change to State Highway 29
Their deaths are renewing calls for changes to what residents have said is a dangerous stretch of highway.
Sandy Botcher has lived in the area for 43 years and has a business along State Highway 29. She said the area near the laundromat needs a turning lane.
“People have run up behind us and felt like we were going to get hit from behind us just like [her] accident,” Botcher said. “It happened right in front of our building.”
What’s being done by TxDOT?
In a statement, TxDOT responded by saying it has two projects in the works along State Highway 29 near Bertram.
However, one of the projects is just west of where the deadly crash happened. The other project is to the east of the crash site.
While TxDOT says they’re examining the area in between, they also say the design and construction of any future projects in the area depends on funding.
“It doesn’t make sense to have the project be approved for turning lanes on 29 and for us to still not have them,” Reyes said.
Reyes said she and others living in the community will continue to push for safer roads as they remember Jimenez. She said they hope they can spark a change or at least speed up the process of placing turning lanes on State Highway 29.
“I am sure we would all appreciate that,” Reyes said.
El Rancho is currently collecting donations to help with funeral arrangements.