Font ResizeParents are wondering why stop signals aren't being used near two Oakley schools after three children were hit after class last week.
The incident involved three children being hit in a crosswalk on East Cypress Road last week after a vehicle attempted to pass a truck stopped to let the children pass, police said. Parents say the signals — which have been covered for about two years — could have prevented the accident.
City engineer Jason Vogan said the signals were covered because they weren't coordinated with the railroad crossings. There was a fear that vehicles could back up, trigger the railroad signals and leave the cars stranded on the tracks.
"At their instruction we turned the pedestrian light off and put bags over the signal heads," Vogan said. "Since that time we've been dealing with the railroad to get the proper permits and clearances to re-energize the light. They've changed personnel a couple of times, which has made the process agonizingly slow."
The children were not seriously injured, but it was the second incident in as many weeks that a child had been struck by a motor vehicle around a school. A 10-year-old was struck near Orchard Park School in late October. He also did not suffer significant injuries.
"To my knowledge both incidents are the first ones we've seen at either location," Vogan said. "The timing is coincidental."
Delta Vista Middle and Ironhouse Elementary schools use East
The crosswalk is used heavily at times, she said.
"The city needs to come up with another alternative," she said. "If they don't plan to ever use the light, I would suggest they remove the light, remove the crosswalk and close the median."
According to police records, five of the 10 people hit by vehicles this year were children — four near schools. None were seriously injured, and not all of the accidents were the fault of the driver.
"It doesn't strike me that we're abnormally high, but it's higher than we want," said Oakley Chief Chris Thorsen. "It's always higher than we want when (motorists) hit a kid."
Traffic officers pick schools to patrol everyday, but they only have two officers for Oakley's 10 schools. Many schools use administration doing traffic duty, but parents sometimes don't obey the laws because they cannot cite drivers, Thorsen said.
Recently, Liberty High School Officials have contacted the police to monitor driving habits of people who come to pick up and drop off students at Freedom High School. Accidents can be avoided near schools if people were more patient, and used more caution, Thorsen said.
The accident at Orchard Park was also the result of a motorist trying to pass a vehicle. Drivers should be aware that children are usually somewhere around schools.
"It is a good reminder that any time people are driving near a school they should be extra careful and expect that kids are going to be around," Vogan said.
Jonathan Lockett covers Oakley. Reach him at 925-779-7174. Follow him at Twitter.com/jonathanlockett.
