‘We have PTSD’: Family begs city to improve road after 18 vehicles have crashed into backyard wall

SURPRISE, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – A couple in Arizona is begging their city to make changes to a roadway after they say 18 vehicles have crashed into their yard.

Ryan and Melissa Langohr said the Northwest Ranch Parkway that runs behind their backyard in Surprise feels like a death trap.

The road has a sudden speed limit drop from 35mph to 25mph, followed by a relatively sharp curve, sending drivers frequently crashing into their backyard concrete wall.

“It’s a poor design. It’s dangerous,” Ryan Langohr said.

The couple said a whopping 18 vehicles have crashed into their wall over the 20 years that they have lived in the home.

“It’s on an almost annual basis. There’s always an accident here,” Ryan Langohr said.

Fortunately, no one has died in any of those crashes, but the Langohrs said they know it’s only a matter of time before there’s a fatality.

“It’s a miracle that no one’s been killed in the last two decades,” Ryan Langohr said.

The family is worried about their own safety, too. Just last month, Melissa Langohr was sitting in her backyard just feet away from the wall when a truck came crashing through, sending cinder blocks everywhere.

Melissa Langohr said it happened on her birthday. The family is traumatized from that crash, fearing for what could have happened.

“We have PTSD. Our kids, our dog has PTSD,” Ryan Langohr said.

The family said Surprise city officials stopped by after that crash and asked them to patch up the wall because they are concerned about children being able to get into their backyard, where there is a pool.

City officials also asked them to match the paint to the rest of the wall.

“That’s what the city was concerned about was the color matching,” Ryan Langohr said.

Instead, the family put a giant sign up over the hole in their wall that reads, “City of Surprise, do we have to die to fix the road?” It also has “18 and counting” written on it.

On Tuesday night, Vice Mayor Jack Hastings vowed to fix the problem. During a city council meeting in public comment, he apologized to the Langohrs.

The Langohrs, however, said they’ve been asking for help for years.

When pressed for why he didn’t act sooner, Hastings said he wasn’t experienced enough in his role to push for change.

“I don’t want to make excuses. But I was new at the time, and so staff, you know, said, ‘Hey, we’re gonna do this and this and this, but we’re limited.’ And I accepted that as the answer, and I didn’t push back. Now with a little more experience, I’m able to push back,” Hastings said.

The Langohrs are hopeful that this time, the city is ready to truly take action.

“At least he [Hastings] is doing something, and I hope he keeps his promise,” Melissa Langohr said.

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