ATV accident caught on camera

HOUSTON Homeowners in this neighborhood are thankful because they realize the outcome could have been much worse. At least one resident is now pushing to make the streets here safer.

On Friday night, an ATV accident in the private, gated Waller County neighborhood sent four teenage girls to the hospital.

"Safety is always a big issue in a community like this," said resident Chuck Gleason.

He lives next to the lot where it happened. One of his security cameras captured the ATV as it struck a light pole after investigators say the teen driver swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming car.

"I knew it was serious because there had to be six police cars, four fire trucks and Care Flight was flying in," he said.

Gleason says it's not the first ATV accident in the Lakes of Katy subdivision, but the most serious he's ever seen. He says some four wheelers are as powerful and fast as cars and claims the teenagers who drive them don't always obey the posted 25 mile an hour speed limit.

"I don't want to have to worry about my child being hit out there on the road," said Gleason.

He insists he's complained to the homeowners association, but says the board has failed to take his concerns seriously. While traffic laws don't apply to these private roads, the board's vice president told us, "The kids involved in this accident were speeding. Our plan is to implement a helmet regulation for any child 16 or under who is driving an ATV."

"I think if they do that or put speed bumps in the community that would slow a lot of stuff down," said resident Aaron Porter.

Concerned homeowners hope this serves as a wake up call and that no one else gets hurts.

The vice president of the HOA also tells us that emails have been sent out to homeowners encouraging parents to talk to their kids about the importance of obeying the speed limit. The HOA board of directors is expected to take this issue up at its meeting next month.