Pedestrian Killed on Western Blvd
Ms. Talissa Hatchell (16) after being hit by a car at approximately 9:30am on Monday, February 2nd, 2009. Ms. Hatchell was attempting to cross Western Blvd (a major thoroughfare in Jacksonville which has 7 lanes of traffic, no crosswalks and few sidewalks along it’s length) to get to the McDonald’s restaurant near the intersection of Western Blvd and Country Club Rd.
The District Attorney Dewey Hudson, in agreement with Jacksonville Police, has decided not to press charges against the driver of the car. His decision is based on the lack of crosswalks along Western Blvd.
Said Hudson:
Western Boulevard is a busy highway situated in a very commercial part of Jacksonville…
He continued:
It is very difficult for pedestrians to safely cross that highway.
That’s an understatement.
Mr. Hudson hopes that this accident will motivate the City of Jacksonville and NC Department of Transportation to installing appropriate crosswalks and pedestrian infrastructure along the road.
The City Council approved the Comprehensive Bicycling and Pedestrian Transportation Plan in August 2008. The plan calls for sidewalks and crosswalks throughout Jacksonville, to include Western Blvd. Since August, though, the City Council has done nothing to plan for implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. The City has coordinated with NCDOT to have crosswalks installed at Highway 17/Marine Blvd’s intersections at Onslow and Gum Branch during recent road repairs. These improvements were recommended in the Comprehensive Bicyclist and Pedestrian Transportation Plan.
Bicyclists and pedestrians will not be safe in Jacksonville until there are bicycle lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks. The plan exists and it needs to be implemented.
Lindell, that’s what I say.
