One Dead, Three Seriously Injured in Three-Vehicle Crash at Great Trinity Forest Way and Wadsworth Drive in Southeast Dallas

One woman was killed and three other adults were hospitalized with serious injuries following a three-vehicle crash in southeast Dallas on the evening of September 28. According to the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to the intersection of Wadsworth Drive and Great Trinity Forest Way at about 5:08 p.m. Dallas Fire-Rescue sent five units and an EMS supervisor to the scene. An adult female was pronounced deceased at the scene, and two adult females and one adult male were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Authorities have not publicly released the names of those involved. Police said a preliminary investigation determined that three vehicles were involved, and no arrests were made during the response. Officials have not announced what caused the collision, and updates on the condition of the three hospitalized victims have not been released. The investigation remains ongoing. Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the woman who lost her life, and with those injured as they recover.

Location and Infrastructure

Great Trinity Forest Way is a major arterial in southeast Dallas that carries the designation of Loop 12 through this portion of the city, linking residential neighborhoods, commercial properties, and industrial areas in the 75216 and 75217 ZIP codes. The roadway runs alongside the Great Trinity Forest, one of the largest urban hardwood forests in the country, and serves visitors to nearby destinations such as the Trinity River Audubon Center and the Trinity Forest Trails system. Its multi-lane design and long stretches between intersections can encourage higher travel speeds, while drivers entering from cross streets such as Wadsworth Drive must judge gaps in fast-moving traffic. The intersection is signal-controlled, and it has been the site of serious crashes before, including a 2021 incident in which a driver ran a red light and struck another vehicle near the intersection of Great Trinity Forest Way and Wadsworth Drive.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Texas follows an at-fault (tort) system for motor vehicle crashes, meaning the party found legally responsible is generally liable for resulting damages. Under the state's proportionate responsibility statute (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 33), a person may recover damages only if their share of responsibility is 50 percent or less, and any recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault. Texas requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage. Personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may also apply. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the crash, and wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. Recoverable damages may include medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, property damage, and, in wrongful death and survival actions, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. This information is general and is not legal advice.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services

• Dallas Fire-Rescue: dallasfire.gov
• Dallas Police Department: dallaspolice.net
• Emergencies: 911 | Non-emergency City of Dallas services: 311
• Parkland Memorial Hospital (Level I Trauma Center): parklandhealth.org

Local Traffic Safety Resources

• City of Dallas Vision Zero Action Plan: dallascityhall.com (search "Vision Zero")
• City of Dallas Transportation Department: dallascityhall.com/departments/transportation
• TxDOT Dallas District: txdot.gov/about/districts/dallas-district.html
• TxDOT #EndTheStreakTX Traffic Safety Campaign: txdot.gov

Support Services for Accident Victims

• Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Program (Office of the Attorney General): texasattorneygeneral.gov/crime-victims
• Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line: 1-800-252-3439 | tdi.texas.gov
• Dallas Police Department Victim Services: dallaspolice.net

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Texas Transportation Code: statutes.capitol.texas.gov
• Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code (Chapters 16, 33, and 71): statutes.capitol.texas.gov
• Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report Purchase (TxDOT CRIS): cris.dot.state.tx.us/public/Purchase
• Texas Department of Public Safety, Driver License and Financial Responsibility: dps.texas.gov