Community Questions Safety of Intersection After Two Separate Fatal Crashes
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (August 12, 2024) — A young man and a teenager both died recently in pedestrian accidents at a dangerous intersection at Fowler Avenue and Perrin Road in Clovis.
The two collisions were just nine days apart, the first on July 31st and the second on August 8th, according to the Fresno County Sheriff Coroner.
The collisions took place in a residential area on a dark stretch of Fowler Avenue where there are no street lights. The speed limit is 45 mph, but there are no sidewalks for pedestrians or bike lanes. Also, traffic entering Fowler from Perrin Road has a stop sign, but they have to dodge oncoming vehicles that do not have a stop sign.
Kaiden Bailey, 25, of Clovis, died around 11:30 p.m. on July 31st when a southbound maroon Toyota Sienna minivan struck him while standing next to a stopped car on Fowler Avenue, just south of Perrin Road.
“It is too narrow of a road and far too dark at night to have a speed limit that high,” said Cathie Bailey, the young man’s mother said in a news statement.
Just over one week later, a 16-year-old Buchanan High School riding a bicycle died after a car struck him on Folwer Avenue and Perrin Road. It happened at 7 p.m. on August 8th, the coroner said.
The Clovis teen, identified as Sandro Lazo, was heading west on Perrin Road and turned southbound onto Fowler Avenue where an oncoming vehicle struck him. The teenager was transported to a hospital where he later died from major injuries.
The speed limit at this intersection could be lowered based on a history of traffic accidents and other factors. It’s a fact that lower speed limits save lives, especially when a pedestrian or bicyclist is involved, according to a study by UC Berkeley Safe TREC.
First, it would need to be determined if the road is controlled locally or by the state highway system. The latter roads generally have higher speeds.
“There needs to be an Engineering and Traffic Survey conducted at this intersection to determine the appropriate speed limit,” said Attorney James Johnson. “The city or county should consider factors such as pedestrian and bicycle activities, the type of housing or commercial development, the state of roadside conditions, history of accidents, as well as the prevailing traffic speed for this area.”
Fresno County Traffic Statistics
There were 14 pedestrian and 18 bicycle collisions out of a total of 361 collisions involving an injury and or death in Fresno County, according to the most recent statistics compiled by the Office of Traffic Safety.
Johnson Attorneys Group does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Furthermore, Johnson Attorneys Group hopes this news information is timely and helpful. Additionally, if you would like to contribute any information, add a GoFundMe page or have legal questions, please call 1-(855) 703-4186 as soon as possible. Our personal injury law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
- Motorcycle Rider Killed in Fresno Crash on Fowler Avenue - September 11, 2024
- Fatal Pedestrian Accident Highway 198, 14th Avenue in Armona - September 11, 2024
- Bakersfield Car Accident Panorama Drive and Haley Street - September 11, 2024
