Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Child's Death in Collision Mourned

Maria Pellum and her neighbors asked officials for a 4-way stop at a dangerous intersection but, she said, the request was denied because no one had died on that corner.

"Well, today someone died," she said at Monday's First Ward Town Hall Meeting. "We stand here with blood on our hands."

A collision early Monday between a Ford Taurus and mini-van with a driver and six children resulted in the death of a girl, 10, and injuries to seven others. The crash occurred at Arlington Avenue and West Ninth Street, near Plainfield High School and the Plainfield Public Library. If it had been later in the day, there would have been students crossing the street, Pellum noted.

Pellum said she had raised her concern at city traffic committee meetings and urged the council members to take action.

"Today when you go to sleep, think of that lost child," she said.

Lt. Ken Reid came to the microphone to offer condolences and said if an officer had made such a statement, it was not a policy of the Police Division to act on a particular traffic area.

Freeholder Linda Carter also expressed sympathy for the family on loss of the 10-year-old child. She mentioned another dangerous intersection at Emerson and Sumner avenues and offered any help possible at the county level. Resident Alan Goldstein described other accidents at Arlington and West Ninth and said people are running stop signs.

Two four-way stops were established this year on Hillside Avenue at Prospect and Evergreen avenues because of numerous crashes and injuries. They had to be established by ordinances on two readings, with final passage in August.

Residents frequently complain at council meetings about speeding and disregard for stop signs and even red lights. Individuals have also requested speed humps or bumps and speed display signs. Possible reasons for Monday's collision are under investigation by the Plainfield Police Division Traffic Unit and the Union County Police Traffic Investigation Team, according to news reports.

--Bernice

4 comments:

  1. West 8th is a speedway used to bypass West 7th... stop signs are blown through all the time, crosswalks with no street lights over these intersections... the area by the school on Arlington has been an area where I've been almost hit many times when driving down Arlington.. Not enough money in the downtown area to warrant speed bumps, 4 way stop signs, crosswalk signals, street lights... Do I believe Maria was told that ?? Absolutely.. When there was a live wire laying across the sidwalk after Sandy on West 8th both the Police Department and Fire Department said there was nothing they could do unless someone got hurt... I can respect how hard their jobs can be, but the "not my problem" attitude is so casually thrown about

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  2. I live right at that intersection and have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of crashes in the 7 years since moving here. There used to be a few crashes a year, now there are, on average, 3 a month. Last summer in one 6-day period there were 3 crashes. Every time, police, ambulance, tow trucks, and often fire personnel as well are dispatched. A 4-way stop would probably reduce the number of crashes, but there is such a serious problem with drivers looking down at their phones while driving through the stop sign at this intersection, I feel that we need stronger measures. I suggest a camera at Arlington & 9th that would provide proof of people texting while driving thru the stop sign. It would cost, but would probably cost less than the tens of thousands of dollars we're now paying for emergency responders that are constantly dispatched to this intersection. As for yesterday's horror, I don't know what if anything would deter the sort lowlife who speeds through a stop sign when there are children around. Considering the condition of the van that rolled over, the other driver clearly was going way, way too fast. I hope this person will be convicted of vehicular homicide. This little girl was murdered.

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  3. We live on Emerson Avenue and for years have been complaining to the traffic division and at meetings about the traffic congestion on this street and the speeding. People drop their kids off and zoom down the street even as cops are there and the cops do not even make an attempt to go after them. Now we have another school at the opposite corner at St. Bernard. A small street like Emerson is not equipped to handle such a huge volume of traffic without police direction. The volume of traffic is way too much for the crossing guards to handle. Something bad is going to happen on this street; it's just a matter of time, and unfortunately, when it does, that's the time when they'll try to correct the problem. I guess they have to wait until another kid dies. Another problem is the gridlock. No one can get in or out when parents come to pick up their kids. There are a lot of seniors who live on this street and an ambulance would never be able to get in because the street is blocked with double and triple parked cars. I would like to note that a certain police captain has been informed on this very serious situation!

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  4. If the van driver would have made the kids wear their seat belts,the child would probably still be alive. The driver was not speeding or texting. It was a very sad accident.

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