Four 13-year-old Oxford girls were taken to the hospital with minor injuries Friday evening after a vehicle struck them as they attempted to illegally cross M-24 between the Oxford 7 Theater and Starbucks.
Around 7:30 p.m., the girls were standing on the east side of S. Washington St., approximately 15 feet north of the white crosswalk markings that connect the corner of Stanton St./M-24 with the corner of Dennsion St./M-24.
‘The girls were laughing, pushing each other ? general horsing around,? stated eye-witness Constance Miller in a written statement to village police. ‘They were taking steps into the road, then darting back onto the curb.?
‘You could tell they were preparing to cross the busy highway, but they did not appear to be taking it very seriously,? said eye-witness Chris Carnacchio.
According to the village police report and witnesses, the girls began to run across M-24 when they were struck by a northbound 2004 Pontiac Vibe driven by an 18-year-old Oxford woman.
The Vibe had stopped south of Stanton and M-24 so as not to block the intersection, according to the report.
When traffic cleared, the vehicle proceeded northward and ‘was unable to stop? in time when the girls ran out into the road.
‘Just as the silver car began to proceed, the girls darted out into the street,? Miller said. ‘The silver car was not moving terribly fast.?
All four girls sustained injuries from impact with the vehicle and three were transported to POH Medical Center in Pontiac. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
One of the girls told Miller she thought it was okay to cross there because of the white crosswalk markings at the corners.
However, the girls attempted to cross M-24 north of the crosswalk, which is considered jaywalking and is illegal.
Neither the girls nor the driver were ticketed by village police.
The crosswalk markings were painted on the state highway in late June at the request of the Downtown Development Authority.
‘The DDA had asked for them because they’d been effective in other communities,? said village Manager Joe Young.
‘We had sent a request (to the state) that they consider it,? said DDA Chairman Kevin Stephison. ‘It’s a traffic calming measure. It’s kind of a psychological thing.?
‘The intent was to accentuate the crosswalk that was there,? explained Steve Stramsak, a traffic and safety engineer who handles Oakland County for the Michigan Department of Transportation.
‘It’s not really the kind we were looking for,? said Young. ‘We wanted something more dramatic. These are like hash marks. We thought they’d be putting in something a little more bolder.?
There’s no signage at the Stanton/M-24/Dennison intersection indicating there’s a pedestrian crossing there.
Young sent Stramsak an e-mail Monday requesting signage and ‘maybe flashing lights or something.?
‘Putting up the pedestrian signs should not be a problem,? Stramsak replied. ‘We will be working on that internally over the next week or so to get placement of the signs and get a work order out to the (Road Commission for Oakland County) for installation.?
Stramsak told Young ‘this will probably take a couple weeks as we are at the end of our fiscal year right now and do not have money to spend on signs until after October 1.?
Crosswalks, such as the one at the Stanton/M-24/Dennison intersection, come with a ‘dual obligation? on the part of both drivers and pedestrians, according to Stramsak.
Drivers are legally supposed to yield to pedestrians anytime they see them crossing the road.
‘Per the Michigan Vehicle Code, they are supposed to yield for pedestrians in the roadway at any time, anyway, but especially when those white lines are present,? Stramsak said.
By the same token, pedestrians are also obligated to cross in a ‘safe manner,? meaning within the crosswalk lines, not running and not expecting oncoming traffic to automatically stop. ‘There has to be some common sense in there,? Stramsak said.
According to Police Chief Mike Neymanowski, this is the third time in the last three years pedestrians have been hit crossing between the theater and Starbucks.
A 14-year-old girl was struck in March 2004 and a 16-year-old girl was hit in January 2006.
The chief, along with other village officials, would prefer to see a traffic signal installed at the Dennison/M-24/ Stanton intersection. In fact, they’ve lobbied the state for one since 2001.
But M-DOT will not put a signal there because it’s ‘too close? to downtown’s only light at Burdick St. and M-24.
Village officials also continue to work on getting a traffic signal installed at Broadway St. and M-24.
Until something changes, Neymanowski stressed that the safest place to cross M-24 downtown, especially during the ‘peak? traffic times from 4 to 8 p.m., is at the light.
‘If you go downtown, don’t cross between the show and Starbucks, go down to the light,? he said.
Even though he does see ‘numerous? kids do just that, the chief said, ‘Sometimes youngsters are reluctant to walk down to the light.?
That’s why it’s very important for parents to talk to their kids about crossing M-24 safely at the appropriate spots.
‘Parental involvement is the key,? Neymanowski said.
At the Sept. 25 council meeting, village officials are expected to discuss the status of their traffic signal requests, signage identifying the crosswalk between the theater and Starbucks and the possibility of making Stanton St. a right-turn only onto M-24.