Dallas Community Mourns the loss of 29-year-old attorney Emma Hackney, who died Sunday evening following a serious crash in Uptown at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Turtle Creek Boulevard. Police allege the collision involved a driver who may have been impaired and traveling at a high rate of speed, renewing local concerns about dangerous driving in the area.
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators believe 26-year-old Preston Petty lost control of a 2025 Tesla Model Y while driving southbound. A witness reported the vehicle took a curve too quickly, struck trees and a median, and then collided with a Porsche that was stopped at a traffic light. Police stated that Hackney, who was driving the Porsche, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Authorities reported that additional individuals were injured, including a passenger in Hackney’s vehicle and Petty’s mother, who was riding with him. Police also noted that officers detected the odor of alcohol at the scene. While Petty denied impairment, investigators reported that he told officers he had been holding his phone while driving and described events leading up to the crash. He has been charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault, and officials emphasized that the case will proceed through the legal process.
Investigators also recovered a storage device from the Tesla that may help clarify the vehicle’s speed and activity prior to the collision. Officials have not released further findings as the investigation remains active.
Residents and workers in Uptown said the incident underscores ongoing concerns about speeding and aggressive driving along busy corridors such as Cedar Springs and Turtle Creek, which see heavy weekend traffic due to nearby restaurants, apartments, and nightlife. Some transportation advocates have called for additional measures aimed at improving safety and reducing speeding.
Hackney’s passing has been felt strongly across the Dallas legal community. She was building her career at Jackson Walker LLP, where colleagues described her as a valued young attorney with a promising future. Messages of condolence have continued to circulate as friends and professional peers remember her work, character, and the impact she made.
As the investigation continues, many in Dallas are focusing on supporting those affected, honoring Emma Hackney’s memory, and encouraging safer driving practices to help prevent future tragedies.
