Knoll Trail Gates Out of Service
[Updated January11, 2026] Residents of the Lakes of Bent Tree community were met with unexpected disruption after a Fed-Ex vehicle sideswiped the Knoll Trail exit gate (hit and run), rendering it inoperable. The incident caused substantial damage to the gate structure, the fence and infrastructure, the pedestrian gate, and motorized equipment prompting an immediate shutdown of the entrance and exit. A police report was filed, and the Board members quickly began efforts to assess the situation and move toward resolution.
It is understood that resolving this matter will cause inconvenience and everyone's patience and cooperation is appreciated. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
While funding was secured earlier this year, the repair has taken longer than expected due to external and internal issues. Installation of the new gate will be completed in phases. Updqtes and photos posted below: UPDATE: The gate damage repair project was officially put out to bid. Five contractors were contacted to submit proposals, as the Board began a review process focused on securing competitive pricing, skilled workmanship, and timely execution.
UPDATE: A community-driven investigation helped identify a FedEx truck and driver using CellGate entry logs, Ring camera footage, package tracking, and debris left behind at the scene — including bolts, rivets, and mirror glass. There’s still no investigation by law enforcement.
UPDATE: A repair estimate and plan were received from Dallas Automatic Gate, placing the total repair cost at just under $15,000.
UPDATE: In a separate but overlapping development, foundation repairs to nearby units (5164–5170 Westgrove Drive) require use of the exit lane and work on the gate repairs is has been halted. Contractors will use the space to stage fill dirt excavated from beneath the affected buildings, further limiting access and delaying gate work.
UPDATE: Repair proposals and cost estimates are under active review. With no final decision on a contractor or a settlement yet in place, there remains no definitive timeline for when the gate will be restored.
UPDATE: A settlement was signed and the Association collected $15,000 to repair the gate and fence damage.
UPDATE : A custom gate is being constructed.
UPDATE: The support structure has been removed and a new one cemented into place. The pedestrian gate has been repaired. The next step will be the gate fabrication and installation.
UPDATE: The custom gate has been hung in place. The next step will be troubleshooting the motor and circuitry. The gate motors operate but the circuitry/ground loops are damaged.
UPDATE:The bricks have been removed and the concrete sawed to install feedback loops.
UPDATE (01-10-26):The gates are in pilot operation mode. Owners can use the gates. Please report any problems.
Hmmm … i initially thought it would have to be a school bus to cause that much damage and be that high. Will FedEx be paying for the damage or will our HOA insurance be taking the hit? How fast was the guy going?
ReplyDeleteINCIDENT:
DeleteThe Board filed a police report for the hit-and-run incident and conducted its own investigation. We were able to determine who was in the community at the time of the accident, identify his deliveries, and gather photos from both resident and community cameras. We also traced vehicle parts left at the scene to a FedEx step van. The top of the gate was damaged by the grab handle used by the driver to enter the vehicle.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
As you may recall, all owners were encouraged to obtain loss assessment coverage, as the Association’s insurance deductible for 2025 is $100,000. This incident falls well below that threshold, so there will be no insurance coverage. If the Board is unable to recover damages from the courier, the cost to owners will range from approximately $145 to $225 per household, depending on floor plan.
Is there any updates on back gate? I have not seen any activity except the removal of plastic covering. With front gates out, I consider this a safety issue now for our community.
ReplyDeleteI share your concerns. These repeated gate collisions are both frustrating and disruptive for our community, and they highlight a broader issue that we can no longer treat as isolated incidents. As we look ahead to 2026 planning, it is increasingly clear that we need to consider structural and operational changes to better protect our gates, residents, and shared property.
DeleteMany delivery vehicles associated with large platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, and FedEx are operated by third-party contractors. These contractors are often under significant cost and time pressure, which can lead to aggressive driving behaviors, poor vehicle maintenance, and inadequate insurance coverage. When incidents occur, drivers may be reluctant to report them for fear of losing their work, making accountability and resolution especially difficult.
Within our community, we are seeing unsafe behaviors such as speeding, attempting to “beat” closing gates, using exit lanes for entry, and ignoring posted warnings. In some cases, drivers have been confrontational or threatening when approached, which raises serious safety concerns for residents and volunteers alike.
Thank you so much for getting this resolved with no cost to our residents! Wow — great job! Normally, I would tell you to widely announce this, but that might encourage the silver Mercedes GLK woman to continue her speeding up/down the South strip at 30 mph. She really needs to “slow her roll.”
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for getting this resolved with no cost to our residents! Wow — great job! Normally, I would tell you to widely announce this, but that might encourage the xxxxx Xxxxxxxx XXX to continue their speeding up/down the South strip at 30 mph. They really needs to “slow their roll.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your feedback.
DeleteYou are certainly not alone in your concern about speeding within the community. We continue to see issues with delivery vehicles traveling too quickly as they deadhead north to exit the property. Similarly, some residents tend to pick up speed by the time they reach the opposite end of the community—whether traveling northbound or southbound.
If you are interested in sharing ideas or perspectives on how this can be addressed, we encourage you to contact the Board. There is an active and ongoing discussion about what steps can be taken prudently and effectively, including the review of civil engineering solutions.
I did make a call to the person referenced in your comment. 🙂