Numerous Crashes at Cedar and Sacramento
Residents of the Westbrae neighborhood in Berkeley, California, are expressing concerns over an area that seems to be prone to car accidents. The most recent accident to occur at the intersection of Cedar Street and Sacramento Street happened on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. It appears to have been caused by a red-light runner. In that crash, one of the motorists reportedly suffered broken bones and a possible head injury. The collision on the 22nd followed another that occurred the day before. Another serious accident happened at the same intersection just a few weeks prior.
In addition to the actual collisions, residents who live near the intersection indicate that they witness near misses frequently as well.
Much of the conversation regarding the problematic intersection takes place on Twitter. Neighbors believe that high traffic volumes along with a lack of enforcement of speeding and red-light-running lead to a high number of incidents. The neighbors are concerned that the problem will increase when schools in the area return to campus teaching and BART returns to its prior rider capacity.
The June 22 Collision at Cedar and Sacramento
The collision on June 22nd happened just prior to 4:20 p.m. A motorist traveling south on Sacramento ran a red light, according to police, and struck another vehicle. The police did not share a lot of information because the crash remains under investigation, but photographs taken of the scene depict a Toyota Tacoma pickup and a Toyota Prius. The Prius came to rest after striking a tree. Scanner traffic from the scene revealed that an off-duty paramedic had been in the area, and he stopped to render aid, reporting that all involved parties were conscious.
Responses From City Officials
A newsletter issued by the councilwoman representing the area indicated that Public Works employees had made a visit to the intersection the day after the most recent crash to explore options to increase safety. One potential solution is to reprogram the traffic signal to include an all-red phase, which would allow vehicles time to get through the intersection after proceeding on a yellow. Additionally, there will soon be a new traffic signal at the intersection of Virginia and Sacramento streets, which should affect speeds on Sacramento. Other suggestions made by the councilwoman included:
- Tree trimming by the City along Cedar Street to make it easier to visualize signals and street signs.
- Adding a left turn signal from Sacramento Street onto Cedar Street.
- Installation of speed feedback devices.
The City of Berkeley’s traffic-calming efforts have been on hold during the pandemic and are slated to resume in January 2022. At that time, the City will evaluate applications for street-calming measures that have accumulated. That includes the stretch of Sacramento between Rose and Cedar streets.
Apparently, installation of speed tables is not an option as they would impede emergency vehicles and buses that travel the area.
One way to let people know about a dangerous intersection is to post a public video. Watch the YouTube video below documenting another Berkeley intersection.
Berkeley Car Accident Lawyer
Hello, and thank you for reading. I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer serving the residents of Berkeley, California. Dangerous intersections are responsible for a lot of car crashes. Most of the time, however, driver negligence is the primary cause. If you have been injured in a crash caused by a red-light runner or some other form of recklessness, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation. If you are interested in discussing your legal options with a compassionate and knowledgeable injury lawyer, call us at (510) 631-0200 or, from outside the local area at (800) 404-5400, toll-free. We can set up a no-obligation consultation or simply offer free and friendly advice.
More information about our firm, including case results and clients reviews, can be accessed via the following links:
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/van-vehicle-street-neighborhood-1245946/
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