SPECIAL REPORT: Dangerous Intersections

According to government data, deadly pedestrian crashes are on the rise. The Governors’ Highway Safety Association finds there was a 10 percent increase in the number of pedestrians deaths between 2014 and 2015.

Salinas police say over the past five years, out of 40-plus traffic deaths, 24 of them were pedestrians. It prompted KION to look at some of the most dangerous intersections on the Central Coast.

Ask any pedestrian on the Central Coast, they have stories of close calls with cars.

“He didn’t even try stopping at the stop sign and nearly hit me,” Victor Castro recalled.

While he was able to walk away unhurt, others haven’t been so lucky.

Over the past five years, pedestrians made up about half of the traffic deaths in Salinas. Police say the deadliest intersection in Salinas is North Main and Bernal, where three pedestrians were killed.

“Over the last five years, this has been the worst intersection as far as fatal vehicle-pedestrian car crashes,” said Salinas Police Sergeant Gerry Ross.

Ross said North Main Street is just dangerous. Other unsafe intersections are North Main at Harden Parkway with eight crashes. It’s the same location where 17 year-old Gabby Beas was struck and killed just weeks ago. Other trouble spots are Laurel, between Davis and Natividad, and Natividad from Rossi to Boronda.

“I think mainly, it’s just because the extra volume of traffic. The streets are wider, (and) there are more lanes in the streets, so people feel they can drive faster when really, it’s not safe to drive any faster than anywhere else,” Ross said.

Ross said many of the crashes happened at night, when it’s harder to see. He also said some of the pedestrians were under the influence.

“So everyone knows that drinking and driving is dangerous, but it’s also dangerous to drink and walk if you’re walking through busy intersections,” Ross said.

According to data from the Monterey Police Department, there are four intersections along Del Monte Avenue considered “high incidence areas.” One of them is on the corner of Del Monte and Camino Aguajito, where there were eight collisions in 2015 though it’s unclear how many involved pedestrians.

Other perilous points on the roadway are Camino El Estero, Sloat Avenue and Hannon Avenue.

In Marina, one intersection has been particular concerning. Within the last year, two students have been hit while in the crosswalk at Carmel and California. At one point, it prompted the Marina Police Department’s Traffic Bureau to set up stings.

In the meantime, pedestrians have messages for drivers.

“Be more respectful for the people that’s crossing the street,” Kevric Bishop said.
“Suppose it’s your mom or your dad. How would you feel about somebody coming and honking a horn at them? Or try to push them out the way almost hitting them?

The California Office of Traffic Safety has made efforts to reduce the number of pedestrian crashes. Not only have there been targeted traffic enforcement and public information campaigns around the Central Coast, other measures include more than $4 million worth of local and statewide pedestrian safety grant projects.