KEMP, Texas — After two fatality accidents this year, TxDOT has installed a temporary barrier along the intersection of Highway 175 and State Highway 274 in Kemp to try and prevent any further accident related deaths.
On February 10, 2019, police recovered a vehicle from a pond adjacent to the intersection. Inside, they discovered the body of 24-year-old Kaitlin Leanne Lawrence of Kemp, Texas. Nearly a month later on March 9, Jamie Manning, a 42-year-old was found deceased in her vehicle in the same pond, after being reported missing.
In response, Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers says that he and Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken Cates reached out to to TxDOT officials immediately to work on solutions.
Temporarily, TxDOT has placed reflective barrels at the intersection to warn motorists but are looking at more permanent solutions according to the Sheriff.
“I appreciate Commissioner Cates and TxDOT’s quick response on this,” Sheriff Beavers tells inForney.com. “Working together we have found a temporary solution while we also look at more permanent solutions that include illumination, rough strips or whatever we can do to try and prevent another tragedy.”
The investigations in both deaths are ongoing until a final report is released by the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s office, however sources close to the investigation tell inForney.com that they have no evidence to suspect foul play in either case at this time
