• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

East Valley Sees Surge in Traffic Deaths

Posted on: Friday, 13 January 2006, 15:00 CST

By Katie McDevitt, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Jan. 13--Four people have died in crashes on Mesa's streets in the last seven days -- a rough start to 2006 following the deadliest year in the city's traffic history.

During the same time period, a teenage motorcyclist died in a fiery crash in Chandler and a motorist was killed in a head-on collision in Scottsdale.

Those particularly at risk have been pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists.

"A lot of them are caused by visibility issues," said Mesa detective Tim Gaffney. "If you're walking at night, you need to walk on sidewalks, wear light clothing, cross in crosswalks and be aware of your surroundings." Last year, a record 64 people died on Mesa roads, which is more than double the total from 2004. The old record was 39 deaths in 1996.

But Mesa officials said they are doing everything they can to deter collisions, including selective enforcement of problematic areas, education in schools, instructing patrol to enforce traffic, making public service announcements on their Web site and using automated traffic enforcement.

"We have hit Mesa Community College multiple times for jaywalking," Sgt. Chuck Trapani said. "We recommend even if pedestrians have to go a little farther to get to the crosswalk, that they do that." Tempe police said they take a zero-tolerance policy for jaywalkers and bicyclists disobeying traffic laws around Arizona State University.

"I think if the word gets out where you face a fine with a pedestrian violation, then people will be more careful," said Tempe Sgt. Dan Masters. "I think for anybody, a $200 fine kind of hits you in the pocket." According to the Surface Transportation Policy Project in Washington, D.C., walking is the most dangerous mode of travel per mile. Although only 8.6 percent of all trips are made on foot, 11.4 percent of all traffic deaths are pedestrians.

In fiscal 2002-03, the Valley was ranked the nation's 10th most dangerous for walking.

"You need to obey traffic signals and be as visible as possible," Gaffney said.

Recent fatalities

--Motorcyclist Laro Nicol, 22 died Friday when his motorcycle collided with a car at Mesa Drive and Southern Avenue in Mesa.

Monday

--Pedestrian Juanita Johnson, 79, of Illinois died Friday when a truck struck her as she crossed Main Street just west of Recker Road in Mesa.

--Bicyclist Wilbert Ulmer, 85, of Mesa died Tuesday when a pickup truck struck him as he crossed the street in the 9200 block of East Southern Avenue in Mesa. He was not in a crosswalk.

--Motorcyclist Joseph Lyczynski, 18, of Mesa died Tuesday in what police say was a street race after smashing into a car in Chandler.

--Pedestrian Arnulfo Merida, 47, of Mesa died Wednesday when a pickup truck struck him as he walked across Broadway Road near Stapley Drive in Mesa. He was not in a crosswalk. The pickup fled, but officers found it shortly after, and driver Luis Trevizo-Gamez, 25, of Mesa told police he hit the pedestrian and left because he was scared.

--Gary Hopkins, 55, died Wednesday in Scottsdale when his Porsche Carrera, which was on the wrong side of the road, struck a Ford Excursion head-on at 35300 N. Pima Road, injuring five people.

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Tribune

More News in this Category