A Dallas driver is expressing frustration over the lack of response from the Dallas Police following a hit-and-run incident in which she was involved. Katelyn Lorenz reports that when she was struck by another vehicle, the police did not send an officer to the scene.
The incident occurred on September 7 at the intersection of S M Wright Freeway and Al Lipscomb Way. Lorenz’s dashboard camera captured a white Mercedes SUV colliding with her vehicle, resulting in the SUV’s bumper detaching upon impact. Just twenty seconds after the crash, the Mercedes sped away from the scene, leaving behind debris.
Despite calling 911 immediately after the accident, Lorenz was told by the police that they would not be dispatching an officer because she was not injured and her airbags had not deployed. Shortly after the crash, a police cruiser passed by her vehicle, but it remains unclear whether the officers were aware of the incident.
While the damage to Lorenz’s vehicle was relatively minor, consisting of only a few scratches, she feels neglected by the authorities. “I didn’t feel like anyone was helping me out at all,” she stated, acknowledging that the situation could have been far worse. “This person just committed a felony, and I’m being told that nothing’s going to be done, basically.” To keep evidence, Lorenz retained the bumper that had fallen off the Mercedes.
In response to Lorenz’s concerns, the Dallas Police Department explained that their protocol for responding to hit-and-run incidents depends on the severity of injuries or damage. They suggested that Lorenz file a police report online to address the situation, stating, “The system is used in order to reduce wait times for citizens and to also free officers to respond to higher priority calls.”
Now, Lorenz has taken the step of filing a report online and is hopeful about identifying the driver of the Mercedes involved in the hit-and-run.
