Category: San Antonio News

Slippery roadways caught many drivers by surprise as they underestimated the road conditions brought on by the wintry precipitation.

The semi tractor-trailers started lining up, unable to push through I-10 in Kerr County early Thursday morning. William D. Thomas, the emergency management coordinator for the county, said the interstate had been a parking lot all day. Without any sun, anything that’s melted will turn into black ice by Friday morning.

“All we can do is hope TxDOT sands the roads,” Thomas said. “We got deputies trying to respond and re-route traffic when possible.”

Thomas said many county residents stayed home, and those passing through had the most trouble getting through the area.

Casey Alviz, with Pantusa Towing and Recovery, said calls from Boerne to El Paso for help started early in the morning. He says there have been fewer vehicles on the road but more serious accidents.

Alviz urges people who must drive to ensure there’s enough traction in their tires and that their lights and turn signals are in good condition. He also warns drivers to look out for emergency vehicles helping stranded drivers on the side of the road.

“Stopping is harder. So our drivers are constantly looking over their shoulders and doing what they can to just get cars off the highways as fast as possible,” Alviz said.

In the first 12 hours of the day, SAPD responded to 30 major accidents, 50 minor accidents and 43 water traffic-related calls.

SAFD also responded to more than 30 calls.

More road troubles are expected in the next few days.

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A man is dead after his pickup truck struck a utility pole while he was driving in wintry conditions Thursday afternoon, according to New Braunfels police.

The crash happened around 2:25 p.m. in the 800 block of Highway 46 South at River Tree Drive.

Police said a Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling in the wrong lanes of traffic — heading northbound in the southbound lanes — when it left the roadway, went onto the grassy shoulder and struck a utility pole.

The driver of the truck was ejected and died at the scene from his injuries. Authorities identified him as 69-year-old Kennon Mulhollan, of New Braunfels.

Police closed the roadway for five hours so crews could repair a traffic signal that was damaged in the crash and for the fatality investigation.

Officers said they believe weather was a factor in the crash, but the investigation continues.

A man who broke his back in three places after falling from a top bunk inside a Kendall County jail cell in December has taken issue with how he was treated following the injury.

“It made me feel like I was less than human. It made me feel like a stray dog that you hit on the side of the road that you have to render aid had more rights that I did,” said Gabriel Miranda, 42.

Miranda turned himself in to officials on Dec. 10 to serve 72 hours in the county jail as part of a DWI plea agreement.

He said he protested having to sleep in a top bunk with no hand rails prior to the fall and had told detention officers he was too big to be up there, but was ordered to anyway.

Sometime before 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 11, Miranda fell as he tried to climb down from the top bunk.

Multiple angles of jail surveillance footage, released to the KSAT 12 Defenders in January following a records request, show Miranda land on his sock-covered feet and then onto his backside.

“I was very worried I was paralyzed. I remember tilting my head forward and looking at my feet and wiggling my toes just to make sure they would wiggle,” said Miranda.

Miranda, who can be seen in the footage on his back showing signs of extreme pain while fellow inmates and then detention officers check on him, was later taken by ambulance to an area emergency room.

Miranda said instead of loading him onto a backboard, medical personnel stood him up, causing his back to pop several more times before he was placed onto a gurney.

Body scans of Miranda later revealed a fractured sacrum and two lumbar fractures.

After initial tests were done at a Boerne emergency room, Miranda said a Kendall County deputy walked in carrying Miranda’s belongings in a trash bag and informed him that he had been released from their custody and care.

Interoffice memos provided to the Defenders by KCSO officials back up Miranda’s timeline of events and indicate that he was released from custody about 7:25 a.m., about two hours after the fall occurred.

Miranda, who was still incapacitated at the time, said he was forced to call his loved ones and inform them of what happened at the jail.

“They basically just dumped me and wiped their hands clean of me and never turned back,” said Miranda, referring to Kendall County jail staff.

He said jail officials have made no attempt to follow up with him since the fall took place.

KCSO officials declined to make a member of jail administration available for an interview for this story.

In a phone call with the Defenders last month, a jail sergeant described Miranda as having jumped off the ladder, although both interoffice memos describe the incident as a fall, and stated that officials decided to release Miranda early after he was injured.

Miranda said he was transferred to a Stone Oak hospital that could better deal with his trauma the same day as the fall and then eventually to a rehabilitation center.

He was released from the rehab center 19 days after the injury, but said the fall continues to have a drastic impact on his day-to-day living.

“It revolves around pain medication, then trying to get dressed,” said Miranda, who still uses the assistance of a walker to get around and has difficulty sitting down.

He said he considers it a good day, progress wise, if he is able to put on his own socks without assistance.

Miranda said he is hopeful the fractures heal without him having to eventually undergo back surgery.

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A woman in her mid-30s is hospitalized and in serious condition after a man in his late 30s struck her with his vehicle, according to San Antonio police.

The incident happened near East Southcross and Roosevelt Avenue on the South Side.

Police said the man and woman were in a silver four-door car together, along with a boy who was around 10 or 11.

An argument ensued between the man and woman in the car. The woman and child then got out of the car and walked away, police said.

Officers said the man then turned his vehicle around and struck the woman before driving north on Roosevelt.

The woman was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in serious condition. The child was not hurt.

Police are still looking for the man in the vehicle. It’s unclear what relationship he had with the woman and child.

KSAT will update this story as more information becomes available.

A 46-year-old man is dead and multiple suspects are on the run following a shooting on the East Side, according to San Antonio police.

The incident happened around 1:32 p.m. Thursday in the 1500 block of Upland Road.

Police said multiple suspects were pursuing a 36-year-old woman in her vehicle. The suspects were traveling in a separate vehicle when they fired gunshots in her direction.

Although the woman was uninjured, the gunfire struck the man, who was not directly involved in the incident. Authorities said it’s unclear why the suspects were targeting the woman.

The suspects then fled the scene and police are still working to track them down.

EMS attempted lifesaving efforts on the man who was injured by the gunfire; however, he died at the scene.

Further details are limited at this time and the investigation continues.

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Severe weather can sometimes cause a stink for the City of San Antonio’s Solid Waste Department. But picking up the garbage day-in and day-out is a job that has to be done.

“It’s an important job. It’s a thankless job. I think a lot of people don’t realize all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes,” said Nick Galus, assistant director of COSA Solid Waste Department. “The last thing we want to do is leave any stinky garbage for any extended period of time.”

Coordination and communication during severe weather is key. Drivers get in at 6:30 a.m. and trucks roll out at approximately 7 a.m. The department monitors weather hourly and adjust routes to try and avoid the worst conditions throughout the city.

“A lot of these adjustments we have to make on the fly. Sometimes your cart may be picked up earlier or later,” said Galus.

Whether it’s freezing rain, sleet or snow, these unsung heroes are working to make sure the garbage gets picked up everyday, no matter the conditions. There is no work from home for these city employees.

During last February’s winter storm, solid waste workers were on the roads braving the elements.

“Last year, that was unprecedented. We still got the garbage picked up,” said Galus.

Galus added that even if solid waste workers are not there early to get the garbage, it will be picked up on your designated trash day. He offered this advice.

“Just make sure your cart is out by 7 a.m. and also don’t call until it’s like 5 p.m., the day of the service,” said Galus.

While most of us are trying to stay out of the cold, these city workers are still out there trying to keep our streets clean.

“We’ve got a job to do, and the men and women of the Solid Waste Department are taking care of business,” said Galus.

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All H-E-B stores in the San Antonio area will close early due to inclement wintry weather, company officials announced late Thursday afternoon.

This comes after a mix of freezing rain and sleet brought ice accumulations to South Central Texas. Ice accumulations are still expected throughout Thursday night, making travel hazardous in many areas.

According to a release, H-E-B stores in the SA metro area, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, Lytle, Seguin, Floresville, Pleasanton, Schertz, Spring Branch, Boerne and La Vernia will close at 6 p.m. Thursday. These stores will open at 8 a.m. Friday.

Central Market H-E-B stores in San Antonio will remain open during normal business hours. However, Central Market stores in the Austin area will close at 6 p.m. Thursday.

As freezing temperatures and wintry mix precipitation continue across the state, H-E-B is assuring customers that it is taking precautions to support its Partners and that it will have additional stock to ensure product availablity despite high demand.

Company officials said any out-of-stocks are temporary.

For more information on H-E-B store hours in San Antonio or across the state, visit H-E-B’s website here.

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