Brenna Cole-Pickrel was a 31-year-old Air Force major who loved running with her dog Daisy. One Sunday afternoon last October, she laced up her shoes in San Antonio and never came home. A driver hit her in a crosswalk.
Her story isn’t unique—it’s part of a deadly pattern that happens every fall across Texas.
The October Crisis
Here’s what makes October so dangerous: Last October alone, 89 people died while walking on Texas roads, with another 143 seriously injured. These aren’t strangers in faraway cities—they’re your neighbors jogging at dawn, kids walking to school, elderly folks crossing to the mailbox.
Last year, 773 pedestrians lost their lives on Texas roads, with pedestrian crashes surging 25% from 2020 through 2024. The numbers keep climbing even as families bury their loved ones.
“This is a shared responsibility,” says Chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. of the Texas Transportation Commission. “TxDOT’s safety initiatives through education, engineering, and enforcement with law enforcement partners are crucial, but they can’t solve the problem alone.”
Think about this: Pedestrians make up only 1% of all traffic crashes in Texas, yet they represent 19% of all roadway deaths. When a person on foot meets a car, there are no airbags, no seat belts, no protection—just vulnerable human bodies against thousands of pounds of metal.
Why October Turns Deadly
The answer is simpler than you’d think: darkness.
As fall arrives, daylight hours shrink dramatically, and suddenly your morning and evening commutes happen in darkness or twilight. That jogger you could easily spot in July sunshine becomes nearly invisible in October’s early darkness.
The daylight saving time change makes it worse. Studies show traffic accidents increase in the days following the time shift as drivers adjust to new conditions. You walk home from work in pitch dark when just days earlier you had daylight.
Here’s the cruel irony: October’s cooler weather encourages more people to walk, jog, and enjoy pleasant autumn temperatures. More pedestrians plus less visibility equals disaster.
What You Need to Do Right Now
If You’re Behind the Wheel
You’re operating a machine that can kill someone. That means you need to:
Stop and yield at crosswalks. Texas law requires it—when you see someone in a crosswalk, your foot should already be moving toward the brake.
Put your phone away before you start the engine. Not at the next red light. Not “just for a second.” Before you turn the key. Every text can wait. Someone’s life cannot.
Slow down when you can’t see clearly. Sun in your eyes? Early morning fog? Dusk? Cut your speed significantly. Many pedestrian deaths happen because drivers literally couldn’t see the person until too late.
Watch for stopped buses or vehicles. They might be stopped for a pedestrian you can’t see.
Drive extra carefully if you have a large SUV or pickup truck. These vehicles have large blind spots directly in front that can completely hide pedestrians, especially children.
If You’re Walking
You’re not helpless—you can protect yourself:
Cross only at intersections and crosswalks. Jaywalking puts you where drivers aren’t looking for you.
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing. If a driver doesn’t see you, don’t assume they’ll stop. Wait until you’ve confirmed they’ve noticed you.
Never assume traffic will stop. Even when you have the right of way, be prepared for drivers who don’t see you or ignore traffic laws.
Wear reflective gear after dark. Invest $10 in a reflective vest or clip-on lights. Yes, drivers should see you regardless—but “should” doesn’t protect you when a distracted driver fails to notice you until you’re in their path.
Put your phone away when walking. Distracted walking is nearly as dangerous as distracted driving. You need full attention to navigate traffic safely.
The Bigger Picture
November 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. For nearly 25 years, at least one person has died every single day in a traffic crash somewhere in Texas. More than 87,000 lives lost.
Lisa Torry Smith was walking her 6-year-old son to kindergarten in 2017 when a motorist drove through a crosswalk, striking both of them. Lisa died. Her son survived with a broken leg and fractured pelvis. Her death sparked the Lisa Torry Smith Act, passed in 2021, which requires Texas drivers to stop and yield the right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists in crosswalks.
These tragedies happened because someone failed to watch, failed to yield, failed to recognize that human life is more important than getting somewhere a few seconds faster.
Your Part in Breaking the Pattern
This October, as darkness comes earlier and pedestrian deaths typically spike, you have the power to prevent tragedy.
If you’re driving: slow down, stay alert, and watch for people on foot—especially during dawn and dusk commutes when most October pedestrian deaths happen.
If you’re walking: use crosswalks, wear reflective gear after dark, and never assume drivers see you.
The deadly pattern can be broken—but only if we all commit to breaking it.
Don’t let your moment of inattention shatter another family. Don’t let someone you love become the next statistic.
Need Help or Want to Report Dangerous Driving?
- Emergency situations: Call 911
- TxDOT Pedestrian Safety info: txdot.gov/safety/pedestrian-safety
- Follow #EndTheStreakTX on social media for daily safety reminders
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