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Uploaded: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 4:57 PM

Atherton: Pedestrian, 15, struck in crosswalk
Driver was a 73-year-old Atherton man

by Dave Boyce
Almanac Staff

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 8, 2009 at 7:31 pm

People drive way to fast on El Camino and the cops just let them get away with it.

Posted by EJ, a resident of Menlo Park, on Apr 8, 2009 at 9:52 pm

It's a bad idea to have a crosswalk where drivers habitually drive fast and where they don't expect a crosswalk. I'm not excusing people who drive too fast, or who fail to yield to pedestrians. But it's just a reality that drivers will blow through that crosswalk not seeing it because they don't expect it.

If we need to allow for pedestrians crossing there, put in a stoplight.

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 8, 2009 at 10:57 pm

They have to put crosswalks where the pedestrians are. If the crosswalk is not visible enough for the speeders, then make it more visible. Remove car parking spaces and put up bright yellow signs. Add another stop light if necessary. Making pedestrians walk a mile out of their way to cross the street is not practical.

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 8, 2009 at 11:28 pm

I don't buy the argument that car drivers don't expect crosswalks at certain intersections with no stop lights. Car drivers should expect crosswalks at every intersection on every street.

In fact, the article says that there were already cars stopped at this particular crosswalk, but one car driver went around them and hit the girl in the crosswalk. There is no excuse for blasting through an intersection when you can clearly see other cars stopped in front of you.

Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 9:03 am

You are all forgetting that we are talking about a driver who is a 73 old man. Many 73 year olds are great drivers. Many are not as good as they once were. I wonder if this man should really be on the road?

Posted by Work in Palo Alto, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 10:21 am

This is sad. No excuses for hitting the girl. Putting in a stop light may makes the situation better.

In addition, I do really find it difficult even at turnings when cars are parked so close to the turn. It becomes all the more difficult to see the on coming traffic if the cars parked are big high vehicles. Cars should not be parked so close to turnings. I have to take a right from California Avenue and then a left U turn to take the Page Mill exit everyday. Cars are always parked so close to the turning from California Avenue. HELPPPPPPPPPPP!

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 11:30 am

I agree that big vehicles like SUVs and minivans parked near crosswalks are a safety hazard for pedestrians. Please don't do that.

I don't think this has anything to do with incident in the original article, though.

Posted by Outraged, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 1:14 pm

How many other people have to fall victim to these Atherton elderly drivers of 80+ years, before the DMV gets it- do not license these people whose reflexes are clearly impaired.

Furthermore, where are the families of these old folks who should run the reality check and step up and ensure their elders aren't a risk to both themselves and others.

Posted by You know its true, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 1:59 pm

Well at least the Atherton drivers have insurance? The current trend lately is the driver with no lic and no insurance. Then the court system gives them a hand slap because its to expensive to prosecute. Then to top it all off, if they are prosecuted theres no recourse in collecting cause they dont own squat, and you will have to wait in line because all the aliens are going first.

Posted by Paul, a resident of the University South neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 3:19 pm

It is illegal to pass a car from behind that has stopped at a crosswalk. A pedestrian you can’t see may be crossing. This is in the California Driver Handbook.

Crossing a multi-lane street with traffic is one of the most frequent ways that pedestrians get injured. We, as drivers, need to be more diligent in respecting the rights and safety of pedestrians.

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 3:46 pm

That's a good point, Paul. The driver in this case clearly made multiple errors before he or she hit the child. Drivers need to be very careful on roads like El Camino Real that have lots of distractions: driveways, parallel parked cars, intersections, crosswalks, store fronts, etc. El Camino Real is not an expressway.

They really should lower the speed limit to be a consistent 30mph or 35mph. Having a 45mph speed limit in some sections and lower speed limits in others really confuses drivers.

Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 3:53 pm

The design of El Camino and many other shopping streets is such that it does not make sense to cross by foot, but it is better to get back in the car and drive. I am not sure that this is the case here, but say if you need to get to Target and WalMart, the safest way to do it is by car rather than by foot.

This type of thing is typically American and would not happen in any other country I have visited. This Americanism actually encourages people to use cars when it would be better to use public transport or walk. For many people who live within walking distance of San Antonio Center, they drive because crossing the streets are too dangerous.

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 5:02 pm

Resident - the victim was a 15 year old girl who likely did not own a car.

We need to make our streets safe for pedestrians, even if that means some inconvenience for car drivers (slower speed limits, fewer parking spaces, etc.).

Posted by Outraged, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 6:00 pm

You know it's true,

wish I could agree with you, but from first hand experience, the insured Senior citizen Athertonian buys their way out of these jams. the State will not prosecute the elderly or imprison them because they don't want them to die in jail. Most they get is a slap on the wrist, their driver's license revoked and maybe put on house arrest.

The problem still lies with the DMV, and our society in general that does not provide adequate public transportation.

Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2009 at 8:07 pm

Sarah

I read the article and if you read my post you will know that I am not saying that this is the case here. But, it is a reality that shopping streets are not safe places for pedestrians therefore drivers get in their cars to cross the street. I think this is a ludicrous system and is often the reason why people do not want to use public transportation to run errands - crossing streets is dangerous.

We need safer crossings, with lights (like the ones on Fabian). Why these are not more common place, I do not know. We need to make it illegal to park or stop within 50 feet of a crossing or an intersection or even a side street. These areas should be painted blue or red or yellow to prevent parking here. Any vehicle parking too close to a crossing place or intersection is blocking the line of sight for vehicles doing safe speeds. With cars too close any pedestrian, particular a smaller person, is invisible behind even the smallest vehicle parked too close.

Posted by Louise Burke, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 15, 2009 at 1:14 pm

I just want to set the record straight. The man who struck the girl was driving SLOWER than the speed limit for one thing, and has a NO accident record. Ever. He was traveling in the MIDDLE lane about 25 miles per hour, (*no skid marks) and a large white SUV was stopped in the SLOW lane. This man assumed the white SUV was turning right, which of course is a wrong assumption so he drove on as usual in the middle lane of traffic. The girls (*only one was struck but two were walking) walked right out in front of him from being HIDDEN by the front of the SUV from sight. No I know this man was obviously wrong, and should have stopped at the crosswalk when he saw the other car to his right stopped, but this could happen to anyone of us. The girls never "look before they lept" on very busy El Camino which was foolish to begin with, and were hidden from view by a larger than normal car. This is why the police didn't cite the driver and allowed him to drive home. The man is also someone's live-on-premises retired "caretaker" type person, not some rich "Atherton homeowner" as some have assumed. He has great reflexes, perfect driving record and it was a horrible and tragic mistake. Give this guy some breaks ok? I know him personally and he is a very good man. He feels very badly about this girl and what has happened. We should not assume things without knowing all the facts. No criminal charges have been filed, no police have visited him at the house, and he has good insurance. Please, let's pray for the complete recovery for this unfortunate teenage girl and her family. OK?

Posted by Louise Burke, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 15, 2009 at 1:16 pm

And one more thing! I have seen amazing CROSSWALKS which have BLINKING lights along them and these SAVE LIVES. There is one at Oak Grove Ave in Menlo Park, and many along Middlefield Road in Redwood City. They WORK! Let's write our mayors and have these wonderful blinking lighted crosswalks installed on El Camino to save this situation from ever happening again.

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 15, 2009 at 1:25 pm

Another newspaper report said that the driver was required to wear eyeglasses when driving, but he was not wearing them when he hit the girl. Driving without required glasses is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

I will be shocked and disappointed if the police do not file charges against this driver. He made multiple errors in judgment as well as multiple violations of the law.

Posted by Louise Burke, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 15, 2009 at 1:27 pm

To the woman named Sarah, who posted a comment April 8th at 11:28 pm- this is exactly what I meant by "assuming" or "carrying tales". In no article I have ever read did it say the person driving went around any other cars to continue traveling through the crosswalk. This man was in the middle #2 lane at all times and AT NO TIME ever went around any cars. Please don't start rumors.

Posted by Louise Burke, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 15, 2009 at 1:43 pm

As to the eye glasses, absolutely it is inconceivable that someone should be driving without glasses, however his prescription is extremely mild. I know I know he should have had them on, like us wearing our "seat belts" just going a few blocks. But he is not "blind" like I am without MY glasses. It is a very very mild prescription, but in any case, he should have been wearing them.

I guess not knowing this gentleman like I do, I would react the same way as you, Sarah. I don't doubt your anger and frustration, but let's put those wonderful blinking pedestrian signal walkways in and save folks.

Also, two of the witnesses who saw the entire accident, from the window of the Physical Therapy Center across the street, say there was NO car in the fast lane, stopped. Only one car in the slow lane, and that it would have been impossible for the man to have seen the girls walking on front of the large SUV at the time. Perhaps pick up a copy of the Police Report at the police station and read the accurate statements before believing everything you read in the papers. The papers often get it wrong or sensationalize things.

Posted by safe driver, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Apr 15, 2009 at 2:31 pm

If you need eyeglasses to pass the vision component of the license test then you need glasses to drive. No excuses.

The man's name has apparently not been released because he may be charged with a crime. Although he has supporters on these message boards (or maybe one supporter), he made a serious mistake and is fortunate that the outcome wasn't worse. I always stop at pedestrian crosswalks if I see another car stopped, even if it's a tiny car and I can't spot any pedestrians. Might be a child or someone in a wheelchair. But then, I always wear my seatbelt too, yes, even for a few blocks.