Another student hit by car near Pacific Grove High School
PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION) For the second time in less than two months, news of a student being hit by a car has shaken Pacific Grove.
"It's scary, especially in the morning. When you're driving up, the sun is in your eyes. That's usually when people get hit,” said Pacific Grove High School student, Summer Sebok.
The blinding, morning sun is what police call a "big factor" in the multiple accidents on Sunset Drive and 19th Street. Drivers said, at the crosswalk, the sun can completely block their view of pedestrians. Many of the pedestrians are Pacific Grove High School students who use the crosswalk to get to class.
"If it gets into driver's vision, and they don't slow down, or take proper action, they could potentially not see in front of them far enough,” said Commander Rory Lakind with the Pacific Grove Police Department.
That’s what Lakind said likely happened when a 15-year-old male student was hit while riding his bike through the crosswalk, last Friday.
In November, another student was rushed to Natividad hospital after being hit at the same location.
“My math teacher said that, through the years he has taught here, two kids have been hit before and one teacher died,” said Pacific Grove High School student, Bogdan Grotz.
Several safety measures, such as speed meters and flashing lights along the crosswalk, have already been added to the roadway.
Lakind said CalTrans is in charge of making changes to Sunset Drive, but the police department plans to offer suggestions soon.
"We're spending time investigating the intersection for engineering issues. We hope to evaluate and see if there is any ways to make it safer,” said Lakind.
Students told KION more oversight at the crosswalk may be the answer. “We need someone to stand in the crosswalk and cause attention. You can't really see people when you're driving up, but if there is something in your way you're obviously going to see them,” said Pacific Grove High School student, Fiona McFadden.
Pacific Grove said they assigned an officer to monitor the crosswalk every morning.
Pacific Grove High School’s principal, Matthew Bell, said the district plans to meet with CalTrans, Pacific Grove Police and the city engineer on Thursday, January 16.
