Video shows car crashing through Fort Worth backyard fence, narrowly missing toddler in pool

A car crashed through a fence into a Fort Worth backyard Sunday evening, narrowly missing a toddler and two other children who were playing, the family said.

According to the Fort Worth Police Department, at about 7 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to a major accident near the 1500 block of Heritage Trace. When officers arrived, they found a car had collided with a fence.

The family who lived in the home told CBS News Texas that their three children were playing in the pool when the crash happened, and the car almost hit their 2-year-old child.

The family's surveillance video captured the moment, showing their 2-year-old walking away just seconds before debris flew in the toddler's direction. The parents called it an "act of God" that their child wasn't struck. They rushed to gather their children, and all three were okay. Then, the father went to check on the driver.

"What happened to our family was not simply an accident. It was a terrifying reminder of how quickly reckless driving can turn into a tragedy," the Van Dusen family said in a statement. 

"Our two-year-old was in our backyard, just inches away from where a vehicle came crashing through our fence. Our five-year-old twins were also in the pool. A 22-year-old driver was speeding and driving recklessly through our neighborhood, ultimately losing control and crashing into our backyard.
Our child could have been killed. Our twins could have been injured or killed. In a matter of seconds, our home and our backyard — places where our children should be completely safe — became a scene where we were forced to face the possibility of losing one of our children."  

FWPD said there were two people inside the vehicle that crashed, the driver and one passenger. The passenger was transported to the hospital in an unknown condition.

Neighbors say dangerous driving is ongoing problem

"And then you just heard an explosion and you just knew there was a crash," said Toni Gunter, who lives a few houses down. "Every day from three o'clock til 10 o'clock, at least, I go to bed at 10 at least for those several hours it's constant."

Their city council member, Charlie Lauersdorf, says he's going to try and make changes immediately.  

"The immediate goal is to have a stop sign put up right behind me. Any time you have these new developments that just have long stretches of road with nothing to slow drivers down, it's a problem," said Lauersdorf.

Neighbors are worried they may need more.  

"I just don't know if they're really going to do anything that will stop it. It's too much money and they don't want to spend it. I understand, but I don't know if you could convince that father that his daughter isn't worth it," said Gunter.

Lauersdorf said he hopes a stop sign can be installed within 30 days, if not sooner, and that the next steps would be to do a full traffic study and see if a stoplight could be put in on that road.  

Police said the driver, who hasn't been identified,  "was cited" for reckless driving. 

"What is unacceptable to us is the idea that something this dangerous could result in little more than a citation and a $200 fine," the Van Dusen family's statement continues. 

"A fence can be repaired. Property can be replaced. But a child's life cannot.
We are not interested in simply pointing fingers. We want to turn what happened to our family into meaningful change.
Our children were almost victims of something that should never have happened. We are grateful beyond words that they are still here, and we intend to use our voices to make sure that the next family doesn't have to say the same thing."