ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arlington community is mourning the loss of William Roberts, 67, who has died following a collision with an Arlington ISD school bus last week. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 18, took place in a heavily trafficked area currently undergoing significant infrastructure changes.
Collision Details and New Developments
The accident occurred just after 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Treecrest Drive and the Interstate 20 frontage road, west of Little Road. According to the Arlington Police Department:
- The Incident: An Arlington ISD school bus carrying four students was making a right-hand turn onto the I-20 frontage road when it collided with Mr. Roberts, who was cycling eastbound.
- The Impact: Mr. Roberts was thrown from his bicycle upon impact. Police noted that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
- Driver Action: The bus driver stopped immediately to provide aid and called 911. However, in a new development, the district confirmed the driver has since resigned from their position.
None of the four students on board were injured. Mr. Roberts was transported to Medical City Arlington in critical condition but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The Role of the Southeast Connector Project
The intersection where the crash occurred is located within the construction zone of the Southeast Connector project, a massive multi-year effort to rebuild and widen I-20 and I-820.
Construction zones often present unique challenges for both motorists and cyclists due to shifting lanes, reduced visibility, and changing traffic patterns. While the investigation remains ongoing and no criminal charges have been filed at this time, the tragedy has brought renewed attention to the safety of non-motorized travelers near major highway construction sites.
