Lisette wrote on Dec 1, 2008 10:55 PM:This comes as no surprise. I frequently travel across town by way of East Grand Avenue and too often witness pedestrians crossing the street in that exact area. I suppose they don't want to have to go all the way to Rose St. to use the crosswalk, however, drivers turning left onto Grand are too distracted by oncoming traffic from both directions. It is not a good idea for people to cross there. They are putting themselves at risk by assuming they can be seen by drivers.

jon wrote on Dec 2, 2008 5:27 AM:Bad street to try to cross when your not in a crosswalk. Im also happy that driver had the decency to stop and try to assist.(Unusual in this town).Im willing to bet that their were plenty of witnesses who just didnt want to involve themselves.

DAVE wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:28 AM:i have a question , i,m from england uk , and was in escondido for a week in june 07 i looked all round Escondido [as a pedestrian ] i used all crosswalks correctly called pedestrian crossings in uk [lol]i was up by the arts center [centre in uk]
and there was no trafic in either direction for full length between blocks is it legal ther to just cross the road at any point or do you HAVE to use crosswalks ??

M wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:36 PM:Drove by the scene last night and it was right by the AMPM, There are apartments across the street and people are always running across there, I have had a few close calls. The light is only 1/2 of a block from there but I guess people are too lazy to walk to the light.

Both here and Vons on east Valley are 2 places that bug me when people cross mid street since the lights are very close. I don't feel sorry for people who do this and seemingly are asking for death or injury.

jvc wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:42 PM:What good are crosswalks? I have often
attempted to cross when the signal says cross but no traffic ever stops!

Brad wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:41 PM:Dave, we are suppose to use crosswalks, but the people we pay to enforce the laws around here seem to have stopped doing that, even though they are still collecting their paychecks.

I don't think using a crosswalk is a federal problem.

Cops around here just cant win wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:22 PM:So the cops have guys like Brad on one side, and whiners like those in this story...

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/10/22/news/californian/temecula/z7ba2200e3d4c0cb4882574ea0061aea7.txt

..on the other side complaining that cops are picking on pedestrians when there are better things to do. And I can just imagine the uproar when many of the tickets written for Brad go to poor, underprivileged foreign nationals who live in that area.

good times wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:56 PM:I used to live on E. Grand, and unfortunatly people seem to think the speed limit is 60MPH there. It's also dangerous to cross even in the crosswalks as people making right turns act like you aren't even there. It's sad to see any fatal accident, thank God it wasn't another hit and run.

jerry wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:00 PM:I cant stand people crossing all times of the day over ther..there is even the old women that takes her scooter across in the middle of the road.. need stop light there!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Dave wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:36 PM:You'll note, however, that we don't have any "look left" signs painted on the crossings. Our visitors are more adept than yours.

In general, you can cross at any point where roads intersect. Painted crossings just give you a slightly better chance that a driver will be looking out for you. From a practical sense, it doesn't matter much, because you'd be a fool to depend on people stopping for you even in a painted crosswalk. In general, crossing between intersections is prohibited.

Sorry wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:59 PM:I do hope the lady gets better, but I feel badly for the poor guy who hit her. He probably feels awful, when it sounds like this didn't have to happen if the pedestrian would have followed some rules. That area is too busy to take such chances and here are the results. The pedestrian with severe injuries, and the motorist who will likely always feel the remorse of hitting her, even if it was probably was something he couldn't prevent. All around tragedy.

To Jerry wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:37 PM:Do you have any idea what a stop light costs to install and maintain? Unless you have $100,000 dollars or more that you want to donate to the cause, you should reconsider your suggestion.

NYHICA wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:07 PM:Saw the remnants of the flares today and knew I'd find my answer here. Unfortunate though! Thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

I travel on that street often and alway think that it needs street lights since it's so VERY dark. The street at this area sometimes reminds me of a boardwalk with the wide variety of crossers. The worst are the kids coming and going from the apt complex on skateboards, scooters, bikes and just darting across the street without looking.

Crosswalks are great but drivers do not necessarily respect them. I was crossing 9th at an intersection with a noticeable limp & with my vested service dog and along came an idiot driver going much faster than he should. He actually stopped in the middle of the road and berated me for not crossing at a painted crosswalk. Well if Escondido could afford some paint that might have been an option. Regardless, I was within the law and yet I get verbally attacked and if I had reacted more than a quick verbal correction, I would have been physically attacked by this wacko.

PLEASE Escondido, street lights need to be installed in this area. Quickly!!!

To brad wrote on Dec 3, 2008 7:19 AM:I hope the next time you jay walk you get a ticket. Just so we can prove you wrong. Blame the cops for everything. You sound like a real winner.