Reacting to the death of a 4-year-old girl in a traffic accident last week, an activist group in San Francisco has taken safety measures into their own hands. Despite San Francisco Mayor London Breed instructing staff on Monday to implement changes at the intersection, the group deemed the proposed timeline of three weeks as too long to wait.
The group has installed cones and plastic barriers at the intersection of Fourth and King streets in San Francisco to block one of the two turn lanes. The minor changes are seen as significant by local residents.
The young girl was tragically killed in a stroller at this intersection on August 15, when a driver struck her. Her father was critically injured in the incident.
The activist group, who identify themselves as Safe Street Rebel on social media, took action overnight, arguing that the city’s delay in altering the intersection was unacceptable.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has not commented on the changes made by the activist group. However, the SFMTA stated that the intersection has been the site of 12 crashes, including a pedestrian being struck in 2020. The area is recognized as part of the city’s high injury network.
The agency also plans to change the signal by implementing a yellow light to remind drivers to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. However, no timeline for this work has been provided.
The driver responsible for the fatal accident has been arrested on three counts of failure to yield to pedestrians and one count of vehicular manslaughter. Authorities have not released the name of the deceased girl or provided an update on her father’s condition.
This incident underscores the urgency and necessity of prompt actions in implementing road safety measures, particularly at intersections known for a high number of accidents. It also illustrates the role of community vigilance and proactiveness in advocating for safer streets.