Car Takes Out Crosswalk Beacon
At approximately 10:20 this morning (11/23) a car heading south on Forrest Hill Ave. swerved to miss a car taking a left on 43rd Street and wiped out one the brand new solar powered crosswalks. The car doing the damage to the crosswalk, stopped, checked the damage, jumped back in her car and fled the scene. Police were called and a report filed. The car in question was a grey/silver Chevy Malibu and has significant damage to the windshield, hood, bumper and lights.
This story could have had a much more tragic ending. Good Shepherd School had a program this morning and just a little while earlier the streets and crosswalk had been full of students and family. Thankfully nobody was present when the accident occurred.
Thanks to Sue Cline for filling in the details, letting me know about the accident and this very true quote, “That this has already come down I think is the best illustration of why it was needed in the first place!” A few more pictures below.
Bent bolts show the force of impact.
The full scene.
Classic.
hopefully the opposite crosswalk lights still work! cross away!! i live near the 41 st crosswalk and cars are ACTUALLY stopping…
FYI: a neighbor reported it to the city and provided the following info:
“Reported it to DPW, via 311, report ticket number is 200 208 089 87. Mr. Roger Henley took thecall and put it into the report system.”
Hopefully fixed soon.
I had been SO happy to see the new flashers working after they first went up, but this morning, around 8 am when I hit the button at 43rd and FH Ave eastbound, and hailed oncoming cars to slow down and yield so I could cross, THREE CARS kept rolling by, one of them even swerving into oncoming (westbound) traffic in order to avoid having to yield. So much for effectiveness or enforcement!
They are working on the repairs now.
It would be great if the RPD could have an officer there for a week or two, to enforce the signal and write tickets for violators as needed.
We locals can help, by driving the speed limit (or under)and stopping at the hint of a pedestrian, thereby force our fellow drivers to be good citizens as well.
Has anyone tested the remaining signal to see if it still works. Normally they would “talk” to each other via control cables and it is likely the remaining one does not work.
I’ve heard that is does work but have not verified.
I activated the one on the north side of FH at 43rd street yesterday morning and both appeared to work. The one that was knocked over may not be charging much since the solar panel is on the ground.
They communicate via wireless frequency.
Looks like the crosswalk beacon is back up and fixed.