WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | City of Savannah to address crosswalk danger concerns
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SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Following the tragic death of Swedish delegate Nils Eric Svensson Tuesday night, after being hit by a car and killed trying to cross Oglethorpe Avenue, the City of Savannah says they are looking into ways to improve pedestrian safety.
The city says the crosswalks are well marked and call this a freak accident. However, they have instructed city staff to investigate solutions.
Meanwhile, local businesses and visitors think more signs to warn pedestrians and motorists should be in order.
While WTOC was out on the street today, at the Bull Street and Oglethorpe crosswalk, we watched as pedestrian after pedestrian stood in the painted crosswalk waiting for a car to yield the right of way.
On the flip side, pedestrians aren't always paying attention to traffic either.
"I've been walking around thinking everyone will stop for me because I am on vacation. Doesn't always work that way," Jill Weingarten told WTOC.
Weingarten is visiting with family from New York City. She figured walking around Savannah would be a piece of cake.
"A lot of cabs come around the corner really fast in the city and a pedestrian has to be on toes at all moments. When you come down here you just assume it will not be dangerous because not much traffic," Weingarten said. "Wow. You have to be careful everywhere."
"I basically wait for the cars," Lauren May, Savannah, told WTOC. "I know there is a crosswalk. I know they are to yield to us, but it can be crazy."
May works at Savannah Day Spa near the Bull Street and Oglethorpe crosswalk where Swedish delegate Svensson was killed by a pickup truck Tuesday night. She worries about tourists who may be lulled into false sense of security.
"The city is so beautiful. People are looking all over. It is easy to get distracted," May said. "There had been a lady who was hit, maybe a few months ago. Basically the same block. Whether it's a sign, something needs to be done."
City manager Micheal Brown and mayor Otis Johnson want to prevent a repeat of Tuesday's tragedy.
"This gives us an opportunity to re-examine the whole issue of pedestrian safety," Mayor Johnson said.
They have instructed city staff to look into pedestrian safety issues and raising right of way awareness.
"Certainly this tragedy, along with the tragedy on Bay Street a few years ago, will make us to continue to assess what we are doing to do new and better things to keep people safe," Johnson said.
After hearing about Tuesday night's deadly accident, Weingarten and her family are back on their New York City toes.
"Listen. This can happen anywhere and I feel really bad," she said.
Other businesses near the accident scene say they have already complained about crosswalk dangers at Oglethorpe and Bull Street. We have even seen situations where the cars stop for pedestrians, while other impatient motorists go around them.
No timetable has been set for possible crosswalk danger solutions.
