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Two Deaths Spark Call for Urgent Traffic Safety Reforms
15 Feb
Summary
- A citizen petition demands safer intersections following two recent fatalities.
- The petition calls for proactive safety evaluations and improved intersection design.
- Concerns exist about uncontrolled intersections in residential areas with children.
A Jamestown resident has launched a citizen-initiated petition calling for immediate action to improve intersection safety. This effort follows the recent deaths of two residents, Daniel Pollard and Jake Stiles, in separate traffic incidents. The petition, titled "Two Lives Lost Is Too Many: Demand Safer Intersections in Jamestown," has garnered over 1,000 signatures.
The petition urges city officials to conduct safety evaluations of high-risk intersections, install additional stop signs where needed, and redesign intersections to reduce confusion and collision risks. Aaron Brown, the petition's initiator, expressed concerns about uncontrolled intersections in residential areas, noting that children often play in these zones.
Daniel Pollard, 40, died on January 10 from injuries sustained in an August 24 crash at 7th Street and 10th Avenue Southeast. Just five days after Pollard's funeral, 16-year-old Jake Stiles was killed on January 21 at the intersection of 4th Street and 5th Avenue Northeast when struck by a semitrailer.
While the North Dakota Department of Transportation is evaluating the intersection where Jake Stiles died, citing 23 crashes in 17 years, residents and officials debate the best approach to enhance safety. Mayor Dwaine Heinrich emphasized the need to wait for investigations, while Councilman Brian Kamlitz recalled the intersection's historical safety issues. The NDDOT analyzes factors like traffic volume, crash history, and pedestrian counts when determining necessary improvements. The petition aims to shift focus toward proactive traffic safety measures across the city.
