A truck driver is working to change the traffic signals at a dangerous intersection in southern Texas after a serious wreck with two teenage girls. 

The accident happened on Tuesday, April 15th in Beaumont, Texas, at the intersection of Highway 365 and LaBelle Road. 

According to 12 News, a pickup truck driven by 16-year-old Callie Pirtle pulled out in front of the oncoming tanker truck driven by Phillip Broussard. Broussard was unable to avoid a collision with the pickup, causing a crash that left both Callie and her 13-year-old sister, Jori, seriously injured. 

“They were actually getting ready to turn, but they straightened up,” Broussard said of the accident. “The front of my truck literally smashed right into the driver’s side door… They were both knocked out. Luckily, there were some ladies that seen the accident if it wasn’t for them, them girls probably wouldn’t be still here,” Broussard continued. “If it wasn’t for them, we probably would be having a different conversation.”

The two girls are currently recovering in hospitals in Beaumont and Houston. Broussard sustained cuts and bruises in the incident. 

Now, Broussard is participating in a community movement to bring change to the dangerous intersection, which residents say has been a problem in the past. 

“Somebody can actually get killed next time. And I mean, just, I would hate to see that happen,” said Broussard.

The community has already submitted an official request for a traffic light at the intersection, and has gathered hundreds of signatures on a petition in support of the plan. Residents also say a four-way-stop would be an acceptable replacement for the current blinking red light. 

“Either they put up lights or they put turn it into a four way,” Broussard said. 

Changes will not be made to the intersection until the Texas Department of Transportation conducts a traffic signal study and analyzes the results. For now, Broussard wants to assure the injured girls that “there’s no fault on this. You know, accidents happen all the time.”