How Police Handle Accidents causing traffic delays (Dallas, El Paso: house, university)

[HerbTarlek]

We moved to El Paso four years ago. We both have lived in larger and smaller cities and ones about the same size as El Paso. We both have jobs that require us to travel a lot. After Wednesday, Sept. 14th's unbelievable traffic jam on Mesa headed west, we have to speak up.

Nowhere have we ever seen a worst nor slower procedure by law enforcement to investigate an accident and clear the wreck from the street to allow traffic movement.

The worst was this Wednesday when a man jumped in front of a bus on Mesa. It was not a multiple or even a two-car wreck. The only person injured was the man who jumped in front of the bus. This is a three-lane road. I understand the difficulties and importance of the proper investigation of the wreck. But to take over four hours to even move the bus and allow westbound traffic again?

Yes, the police created one westbound lane on the eastbound side, a good job. But, there were no police directing traffic keeping people out of the intersections of side streets when the traffic light turned red. But, there were multiple policemen walking or standing around. If they just would have taken control of the intersections by directing traffic, it would have helped so much.

Being stuck in that traffic was like being on the Titanic after all of the lifeboats had left as Mesa is the only way home for many Westsiders, especially with the Executive westbound I-10 entrance is closed.

We were stuck in traffic over 3.5 hours in a normal 20-30 minute drive. Thank heaven we didn't have to get to a job like I am sure many people had to.

Why can the police in Dallas, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Jacksonville, etc. clear an accident scene, especially just a one vehicle mishap, in less than half the time as what happens in El Paso?

[Rogarven]

I agree, my wife just stayed with her friends in Mission Hills until 9 PM to come home. Thank God, she didn't try to leave that friends house at 4 like she would have normally done. I didn't understand the need to block so many lanes. And the OP is right, why take so long to move the bus and get things back to normal?

[Poncho_NM]

Police identified man killed after being struck by Sun Metro bus
By Jesse Martinez|Jessica Gonzalez Wednesday, September 14th 2016
Developing: Pedestrian crash on Mesa Street in west El Paso | KFOX

EL PASO, Texas — Police identified the man who died after being struck by a Sun Metro bus in west El Paso Wednesday afternoon.

Jon Wortner, 34, was walking on the sidewalk on Mesa Street when police said he jumped in the path of the bus.

Wortner was taken to University Medical Center where he died Thursday morning, police said.

The Sun Metro bus driver is not facing any charges in this incident, according to police.

Traffic was at a standstill for hours Thursday as police investigated the incident.

Additional Article: Man dead after jumping in front of Sun Metro bus - Story | KTSM

[atrabilius]

Just blowing his brains out, taking pills, or cutting his wrists wasn't good enough for this guy. He had to pick a way to off himself that would cause the maximum amount of trouble to as many people as possible.

[katzpaw]

Eastbound I-10, south of Sunland Park,
A car broke down in morning rush hour and pulled into the center median.
It wasn't blocking traffic but the cop who pulled in behind him stopped 1/2 in the "fast lane" - reducing traffic to 2 lanes in rush hour.