Posted: 7/27/06
Vehicle-pedestrian accident fuels crosswalk debate
By Luther Dorr
A vehicle-pedestrian accident at the city's main intersection last Friday morning had people in town talking again about the perils of being a pedestrian.
Denise Doyle of Princeton was hit by a van about 9:26 a.m. as she began to cross Rum River Drive at the intersection of First Street.
The police report on the accident indicates that Doyle had activated the "WALK" sign before entering the crosswalk.
The driver of the van indicated that she had a problem seeing Doyle.
Doyle was taken to the hospital by ambulance, treated for some minor injuries, and released two days later.
There may or may not be a ticket issued in connection with the accident, said Police Chief Dave Warneke.
Warneke said the department has been issuing more tickets than in the past to drivers who don't yield the right of way to pedestrians who are in the crosswalk.
He agreed that there is a problem in the city with vehicles not yielding to pedestrians, especially at the two intersections immediately north and south of the main intersection where the accident happened Friday.
It's a little different at the Rum River Drive-First Street intersection because there is a signal light there, he said.
"Pedestrians should activate the WALK sign there," he said.
Marcy Winchester, who makes deposits four or five times a week at Bremer Bank for Federated Co-op, said she's had problems crossing Rum River Drive.
"I usually stand there until it's clear," she said, "but one day I almost got hit by a semi when I was in the middle of the crosswalk.
"I get cussed out by drivers sometimes. One guy told me I had to make eye contact first."
Winchester has taken pictures with a digital camera and taken them to the police station, she said.
"They've told me there isn't much they can do," she said.
Warneke said that if a vehicle is in close proximity, a pedestrian shouldn't step out.
"But if a vehicle is back far enough," he said, "they should yield to you until you clear their lane."
Princeton Union-Eagle
P.O. Box 278
Princeton, MN 55371
Telephone: 763-389-1222
Fax: 763-389-1728