A local safe streets advocacy group says the crash that killed a Rancho Penasquitos woman is the city's the sixth fatality this year.
Circulate San Diego advocates for safer streets and greater mobility for walkers, cyclists and drivers. Last year, there were 22 deaths and 1,000 people seriously injured in traffic accidents, according to the group.
“There are traffic accidents every single day in San Diego and every day of the year someone is getting hurt or killed,” said Jim Stone, Executive Director Jim Stone said.
The victim, an elderly woman, was struck and killed while crossing Carmel Mountain Road just south of Gerana Street on Thursday night, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).
Although police say the driver was not impaired in any way and had been driving the posted speed limit.
But neighbors claim that cars are usually driving faster than the 40 mile per hour limit and there are no working street lights or signage to help prevent deadly crashes like these.
Augustine Fernandez, a friend of the victim's, said the woman had been walking over to her apartment with some clothes. The victim and her husband were going to move in to Fernandez' apartment.
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“I'm so sorry this happened. I'm so shocked,” Fernandez said.
Frustrated neighbors shared their grievances with the heavy and fast moving traffic on the road. Scott Johnson's rant drew a crowd and even applause.
“Something needs to be done about this now. This is too late someone was killed here tonight,” Johnson said.
Coincidentally, Circulate San Diego released its Vision Zero video on Friday. It's an initiative to eliminate vehicular deaths and serious accidents in San Diego.
A year ago, the City of San Diego adopted the Vision Zero resolution, formed a task force to study problem areas and even came up with a strategic plan.
“They need to activate it. They need to implement it. They need to make it happen because this is literally a matter of life and death,” Stone said.
The group says the stretch of Carmel Mountain Road where the accident occured is not among the list of most dangerous corridors but that doesn't diminish the need to make improvements which could save lives.
The Vision Zero initiative identified eight of San Diego's deadliest major corridors. Two are in the University City area.
You can see the list for the most dangerous eight here.
