Open Season on Pedestrians in Transitional Block

[XLFD]

The 5500 block of the US 10 Highway going through Ludington (effectively that stretch between the north turnoff on Jebavy Drive and the south turnoff of PM Highway or between Mancino's and Walgreen's if you're more into landmarks) is quickly becoming known as a major hazard for pedestrians, with two major incidents involving vehicles hitting pedestrians in the first half of this year.

 

In mid-April, MCC teacher Scott Dumas was walking in front of Shop and Save when a hit-and-run driver blindsided him, giving him injuries that he is still recovering from.  The driver, Brian Keith Blackburn, 24, 603 N. Delia St., Ludington, had been charged with:

• operating while intoxicated (OWI) causing a serious injury (max. 5-year felony, $5,000 fine)

• failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in serious impairment or death (max. 5-year felony, $5,000 fine).

• OWI 2nd offense (max. 1-year misdemeanor, $2,000 fine)

• controlled substance-possession of marijuana (max. 1-year misdemeanor, $2,000 fine)

• two counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer (2-year, $2,000 maximum felonies)

Scott (below) reportedly had been hit at a fairly good speed by the driver, who was likely using the road in Shop and Save as a short cut between the PM Highway and Jebavy.  This is not all that uncommon of a practice to avoid the congestion in the 5500 block.   

 

One could easily classify this as a simple parking lot accident that was unfortunate and caused by the actions of someone who was under the influence driving recklessly.  But I think we should broaden the focus to look at what could be improved to lower the likelihood that this would happen again.  If we look at the overhead map and check out the alternate route that our hit-and-run driver followed heading from the lower right to the upper left (the red 'X' is where Scott was hit)  :

 

 

Clearly, between Shop and Save's parking lot and the store, we have a lot of foot traffic either way, so to minimalize a recurrence, it would behoove us to make the route less desirable as a detour for drivers in a hurry to get from the PM Hwy to Jebavy, and vice versa.  Signage on Mitchell Street (behind Shop & Save) discourages the use of that route as such a detour, even though it's better safety-wise and efficiency-wise for all concerned that endeavor to use this type of detour. 

 

Those who are planning to use this detour anyway, will not be deterred from going the other route in front; so maybe if we get rid of the signs, it will reduce vehicle traffic across the front of Shop & Save that wouldn't be stopping there anyhow, and going faster than they should.  A speed bump just a little after the turn in front should also be considered to slow the aggressive drivers down enough to present a lesser threat, and also alert pedestrians to their presence. 

 

Pedestrians should also be aware of the conditions in that particular spot of the parking lot, and be as vigilant as they would be if they were crossing a street.  Extra alertness may have allowed Scott some time to dodge the hurtling missile. 

 

The most recent incident happened on June 30 at the intersection of Jebavy and US Hwy 10.  A 57 year old man crossing US 10 from the corner at Mancino's to the Express Mart was hit by an 80 year old woman turning from Jebavy Drive onto US 10.  The incident was caught on video, and released by the sheriff's office:

The route of the car (in blue) and the pedestrian is seen in this picture looking south from Jebavy.

 

There is a pedestrian crossing sign that the man was crossing with, and it would have been proper for the older lady to yield to the pedestrian who was clearly visible to her as per the video (in the pic above the one truck at where the paths cross is poised beyond the crosswalk area). 

 

She didn't and she was rightly ticketed, and luckily he was treated and released from the hospital.  It could have been much worse.  The accident illustrates the fact that pedestrian facilities in that whole area are inadequate.  No sidewalks and partial pedestrian crossing lights that do not seem to reflect conditions are something that need to be remedied to ease the situation.  Her diminished capabilities as a driver may have been an issue, and hopefully she will be retested to see whether she should be out on the road on her own. 

 

But again, I hate to blame the pedestrian victim for anything, but it looks as if the man was not mindful enough to look to his right and behind him when he was crossing the last two lanes.  He may have not had to deal with road rash if he saw the car barreling at him in time, and reacted accordingly.  It does not excuse her bad driving, but pedestrians always must remember that there are a lot of distracted, drunk, and disordered drivers out there, and that if an accident occurs, the driver will not be the one that gets hurt worst, if at all.

[XLFD]

Yesterday, the driver who ran into Scott Dumas went in front of the court with six charges for the accident:

1) drunken driving causing a serious injury

2) possession of marijuana

3) fleeing the scene of a serious accident

4) resisting arrest, 2 counts

5) OWI, 2nd offense

Fleeing, resisting, possession, OWI... You wonder if Brian Blackburn, the driver, would have gotten any charges if he wasn't DWI, and instead of running, stopped, and cooperated with the police after recklessly driving into Mr. Dumas.  This happens frequently enough in pedestrian accidents, where a cooperative driver walks away without any charges.