Christmas

Man Dies Christmas Night After Falling Into Ditch

Family questions why street had no safety rail

A North Texas man died Christmas night at a family gathering in Watauga when he fell into a drainage ditch right after he had brought gifts to a car, family members said.

Roland Buteau, 55, of Fort Worth, was visiting family members in the 6400 block of Summit Ridge Drive.

"Everything [was] happy because we're all here together celebrating Christmas and it's just unexpected that happened,” said Glenda Laserna. “It's just terrible, terrible."

Laserna’s husband, Gil, said the Christmas tragedy was preventable. There was no safety rail where the street suddenly drops about six feet to the paved ditch below.

"I knew it was a dangerous situation to have an open culvert here," Gil Laserna said. “He fell down, hit his head on the pavement and landed in the water face down.”

Buteau, a maintenance man who lived in Fort Worth, died at John Peter Smith Hospital.

He was married to Gil Laserna’s ex-wife.

"It's a tremendous shock for the entire family,” Gil Laserna said.

Gil Laserna said he wanted to extend his own fence a few years ago to avoid an accident. The side of Laserna’s yard also suddenly drops to the creek.

"The city said no," he said.

Watauga wouldn't allow a fence close to where a sidewalk might one day be built, he said.

"I hope the city will do something now,” Gil Laserna said.

Watauga city leaders released the following statement:

The City of Watauga wishes to express our sympathy and condolences to the family of Roland Buteau for their loss. We are saddened by this event and the grief of Mr. Buteau's family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. 

The City will conduct a thorough review of this incident. Currently, the City has placed barricades at the location.

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