Residents hope to track tire slasher

Updated: Sunday, 02 Jan 2011, 11:54 PM CST
Published : Sunday, 02 Jan 2011, 5:54 PM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Parking your car overnight in the Hyde Park neighborhood just north of the University of Texas campus will make you potential prey for a tire slasher.

Over the past 15 years, the person behind these crimes has not been caught.

Now, area residents are taking matters into their own hands.

"Well it is just really frustrating when you know he is on a rampage and you go to bed not knowing whether you are going to wake up with two tires slashed, that you are not going to be able to get to work," said Carol Jackson, an area resident who has had two of her car hit by the slasher."

She is one of dozens of victims.

"This man is terrorizing us," Jackson said.

The Hyde Park Neighborhood Association is looking to collect funds from victims like Jackson to put toward collecting evidence and possibly trailing this suspect.

Association President Lisa Harris told KXAN they hope to collect $5,000 and the association will match what is collected.

If approved, this would allocate $10,000 toward catching the person responsible and be the first time residents have banded together on this matter.

"People are very frustrated," said Harris.? "You can imagine if someone is having to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on replacement tires in a year."

Harris would not disclose many details pertaining to the plan to catch the perp, but told KXAN residents have met with a security consultant.

"We may have cameras, but we do not want to say too much because we don't know if he watches the news," Harris explained.

An arrest has never been made in the case, but neighbors have identified a person-of-interest.

Harris and Jackson believe the tire slasher is a homeless man living in the area.

Residents have contacted Austin Police for help in case in the past.

"It is going to take more effort than the police have resources for," Jackson, who sympathizes with police, added.

The neighborhood association has even started a web site that tracks the tires that have been slashed and lists monetary damage.

Resident are meeting Monday at 7 p.m. to vote on the allocation of money.

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Students make train track safety PSA

Updated: Sunday, 28 Nov 2010, 10:54 PM CST
Published : Sunday, 28 Nov 2010, 8:13 PM CST

Two months after a deadly South Austin train accident killed a 16 year old Crockett High School student some of his peers have a project to raise awareness about safety around train tracks.

The train hit and killed James Hinojosa while police say he was walking on the tracks near Crockett High. Students at the school are making a public service announcement about train track safety.

If there's any doubt about the dangers around railroad tracks, one just has to look at this memorial cross on Stassney near the spot where a train hit and killed a Crockett High School student in September.

Now other students are taking part in a video project to educate all students about railroad safety.

"It's something that happened really close to home. It's something that affected a lot of people," said Freshman Danielle Fee.

Students still miss seeing 16 year old James Hinojosa in the halls of Crockett High.

"It was really tough for the whole school even for people that didn't know him, it was really tough," said Junior Estefania DeLeon.

Hinojosa died walking along the tracks near the school. Railroad officials said he was wearing headphones when the train came around a corner from behind him.

To prevent another tragedy like the death of Hinojosa, these audio visual production students are creating a public service announcement about railroad safety that will air on the school's news program.

"It's really important because it can happen to anybody even if they don't think it can," said DeLeon.

Using information from Operation LifeSaver, a non profit that aims to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities on train tracks, the students recorded proper ways for crossing tracks, explained why it's illegal to trespass or walk on them and urged people not to be distracted by headphones or texting near tracks.

"I hope people like they think more about what they're doing when they are close to tracks," said Freshman Breanna Escobar.

The students learned valuable lessons during research for the project.

"There's not a set time for the trains to come they can come anytime," said Fee.

They want their PSA to make a lasting impression on others.

"A lot of people don't see any danger in walking on the tracks or playing around the tracks but it really is a big danger," said DeLeon.

According to Operation LifeSaver about every 3 hours a train hits a person or vehicle. The students hope their PSA reminds their peers to be careful.

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F1 Track: One step closer

Updated: Wednesday, 03 Nov 2010, 11:20 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 03 Nov 2010, 10:50 PM CDT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Some land development code variances for the Formula 1 track site in Southeastern Travis County near the airport were approved at the Environmental Board meeting at City Hall Wednesday evening.

This is the first of potentially several public hearings Formula One developers face with the City.

The variances will allow the developers to eventually begin construction at the site.

"Essentially the city code requires that if you're going to move more than four feet of dirt," said F1 Attorney Richard Suttle. "You got to have it reviewed, and that's what we're doing tonight."

The Board overwhelmingly approved that motion despite some continued opposition.

"I'm going to oppose it as much as I can," said Chris Lehman with the Sierra Club of Austin .

"Formula One advances the sale of high performance gas-guzzling cars and it's going to affect our air quality," he said.

The only road block Formula One developers have faced has been two gas and liquid pipelines running through the track site.

"We will be relocating them on our property," Suttle said.

The pipelines will be re-directed around the track during the construction process.

One supporter who came out to speak Wednesday night lives in the Elroy area where the track will be constructed.

"It's really awesome to know there will be a Formula 1 track in our backyard," said Matt Sager.

Groundbreaking is expected in December or January.

Completion is expected in 2012 and races may start as early as June of 2012.

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