A near-tragedy in a Burleson neighborhood has sparked renewed concerns about child safety, parental supervision, and responsible driving on local residential streets.
Kaylanne Gray from Fort Worth, Texas, shared the incident in the “Burleson Residents and Neighbors” Facebook group, describing how a young boy ran directly in front of her vehicle while chasing a baseball near the intersection of Summerwood Dr. and Archbury Rd.
Gray reported that she and her husband were driving with their own child when they saw a baseball rolling across the road.
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Moments later, a boy, estimated to be around 8 years old, came out onto the street from between houses, giving them only seconds to respond.
Gray’s husband, J.P. Gray, slammed the brakes just in time, avoiding what could have been a devastating collision. She wrote,
If you live on the corner of Summerwood Dr. and Archbury Rd. And have two young boys please have a serious conversation with your kids about not running in the road after a ball to wait for it to be clear or to get an adult to get it. All we saw was a baseball rolling around in the road and then out of nowhere came this young boy probably around 8 who ran right out infront of our vehicle after the baseball. There were no parents insight and luckily my husband was quick to hit the breaks. We were able to stop and wait for him to get the ball but it could have easily been a very different situation had my husband not had the time to stop. I would absolutely hate for something to happen to your child.
Kaylanne Gray
The post grabbed attention, sparking a mixture of concern, frustration, and debate among residents about how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Some commenters encouraged Gray to approach the children’s parents directly. Mary Killen suggested that a face-to-face conversation is the most effective way to ensure parents understand the seriousness of the situation.
She said,
You should have went to the door and talked to the parent that happened to me once I went to the door and told the parent
Mary Killen
But Gray pushed back, noting that she did not know which house the boys came from and felt uncomfortable approaching unfamiliar children.
I’m not even sure what house was theirs and I highly doubt they would tell a stranger where their parents are.
Kaylanne Gray
Janice VanHorn advised against knocking on strangers’ doors or approaching children. She commented,
Kaylanne Gray Never walk up to someone door. Not in this day and age. You did right. Another course one cud sit in car and honk horn Also. Don’t try to call kids over to car
Janice VanHorn
Tracey Helm Duhn described two boys on Hillside, near STEAM Middle School, who frequently run into the street between parked cars. She said,
Same for two boys on Hillside across from STEAM . With cars parked on road they run out without thinking . Car in frint of me last week nearly hit one of them
Tracey Helm Duhn
Olivia Britt Jenkins, a graduate of the Lawrence D.Bell High School, added that children in Summercrest also play dangerously close to the roadway.
Though they appear somewhat more cautious, she has had to brake several times sharply. She noted,
Also the kids on Summercrest!! Idk which house but close to the light!! They’re a little more careful than this but they definitely still get way too close to the street and I’ve slammed on my brakes multiple times when their ball goes in the road. It’s such a busy street! I love kids outside but ugh! I never see adults watching either. They’re probably old enough to be on their own but I’m so nervous I’ll wake up to a tragedy one day.
Olivia Britt Jenkins
Other commenters emphasized that while drivers should remain alert, roads are designed for vehicles, not as play spaces. Carolyn Belz stated,
As much as I agree with the slowing in a residential area… the roads are fully intended for vehicles. Parents are supposed to be watching their children.
Carolyn Belz
In response to accusations that her family had been driving too fast, Gray clarified that they were not speeding and would never endanger their own child or anyone else.
She posted a screenshot of a map to show the boys’ position relative to their vehicle, explaining that the child appeared suddenly and without warning. She said,
I just want to clear up any confusion cause there was a women implying we were speeding. For starters, we had one of our own children in the car and we would never speed and put their life in jeopardy let alone anyone else’s life in jeopardy. I’ll be attaching a screenshot of where the children were at and where my vehicle was to give some kind of information on how we didn’t see them until it was almost too late. Lastly my tires did not screech or anything when my husband came to stop. It was just a hard break so that way we didn’t hit the Child. But it definitely scared us for the safety of the child. The picture is about where the second little boy was standing when I looked to see where the first boy came from. I myself as the passenger had to take my eyes off the road infront of us to look left down Summerwood Dr. to see the child.
Kaylanne Gray
Still, some residents used the incident to remind drivers to slow down. Dee Ann Ireland Odom wrote,
Also when driving in a neighborhood please drive responsibly not 50 or 60+ down the street.
Dee Ann Ireland Odom
While not everyone agreed on what should have been done in the moment, many applauded Gray for speaking up publicly.
Jean Greener wrote,
Girl, you did the right thing by posting here.
Jean Greener
Others said that community-wide notifications help protect all children in the area.
Samantha A. Felts noted that a Facebook post alerts those who regularly drive through the neighborhood, even if it doesn’t reach the specific parents involved.
Some residents, including Jason Vessels, suggested neighborhood text groups or communication chains as a practical alternative. He shared,
i text my neighbors and say uour kids are in the street.
Jason Vessels
