Four crashes were reported the first night State Highway 130 in Texas opened. Many would assume the highway’s 85 mph speed limit was the cause, however, speed is not what is being blamed for the accidents– wild hogs are.
On Wednesday night, four crashes were reported; three in Lockhart and one in Caldwell County. One vehicle was totaled, though no injuries were reported.
While the wild hogs are being blamed for the accident, Lockhart Police Chief Michael Lummus told KXAN the high speeds only compound the problem, however, he added that the hogs are a problem regardless of the rate of speed.
“I don’t know that there’s an easy fix because even if you drop the speed limit to 60 or 65 it’s still a problem,” he said.[pullquote align=”right”]”A lot of the problem comes when people try to avoid something,” said Lummus. “You’re probably better off if you hold your course and go through it where you have a good grip on the wheel and just go through it.”[/pullquote]
“85– they’re on (the hogs) even before they know they’re on them,” Lummus told KXAN. “Anyone that’s ever struck a deer, they know that they’re in the ditches and you don’t see them until they’re in front of you and it’s the same with these (animals). But they’re even lower (to the ground and hard to see).”
According to KXAN, the Lockhart Police Department patrolled the highway the evening before its opening and spotted a pack of wild hogs.
The wild hogs are such a problem in the area, that Caldwell County offers a $2.00 reward for every wild hog tail that is turned in.
Lummus warns that the wild hog problem is not going to end soon. He advises drivers that if they come upon a wild hog while driving, to say their course and do not swerve.
“A lot of the problem comes when people try to avoid something,” said Lummus. “You’re probably better off if you hold your course and go through it where you have a good grip on the wheel and just go through it.”
Drivers hit wild hogs on new section of SH 130