Traffic incident alarms pedestrians
The driver, Christopher Grizzle, was talking on a cell phone on Hancock Street going toward downtown turning left onto Clarke Street in a black BMW. According to the Milledgeville Police Department’s report, he waited for oncoming traffic to turn, but failed to yield to pedestrian, Jenkins. Jenkins was rightfully walking west in the crosswalk.
Grizzle was issued a citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian.
Jenkins was immediately taken by ambulance to Oconee Regional Medical Center. The EMT’s took precautions to ensure her safety though there was no visible injury.
“They put a neck brace on her to make sure she didn’t have any trauma,” Bryan Jackson, director of university communications said.
According to Jackson, Milledgeville Police Department responded to the incident, including the Deputy Chief.
The accident is being investigated by Milledgeville Police Department.
This incident raises the question of how to make the crosswalks on and surrounding campus safer for student pedestrian traffic.
According to Jackson, Monday’s event was not the first time a pedestrian accident has occurred. Over the past few years, multiple accidents have taken place.
Alex Olivier was hit by a car while walking in a crosswalk in front of Sandford Hall on Greene St. in 2007. He suffered a broken wrist, injured jaw and bruised hip.
“They need to put a crosswalk in across from The Grove,” Olivier said. “Anyone who lives there and is a frequent walker is in danger everyday.”
His opinion is shared by other Grove residents.
“I feel like I am playing Frogger every time I have to cross Franklin Street,” Michael Christopher, Grove resident, said. “And not in a good way.”
Hopefully pedestrians and drivers both will heed warnings and be weary of situations where accidents are frequent.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Jan 30 2009. Filed under News.
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