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Tag: intersection

  • Pedestrian killed in vehicle collision Sunday; PD closes lanes

    fatal pedestrian accident. Sunrise Blvd, Citrus Heights.
    Citrus Heights police officers investigating on-scene after a pedestrian was fatally struck on Sunrise Boulevard, Sunday morning.

    Updated Aug. 17, 6:14 p.m.–
    Citrus Heights police closed down several lanes at a busy Sunrise Boulevard intersection Sunday morning after a 28-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle while attempting to cross the street.

    Traffic Sgt. Dave Gutierrez said the fatal collision occurred around 5:13 a.m. at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Old Auburn Road, with an investigation revealing the pedestrian was hit while crossing in a crosswalk — but during a “don’t walk” signal.

    According to a police news release, officers responding to the scene attempted lifesaving efforts on the pedestrian, but the man was determined to have been killed upon impact by Metro Fire personnel on scene. The pedestrian was later identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s office as Joseph Downing, who was described by family members as “high-functioning autistic,” according to Sgt. Gutierrez.

    An investigation following the incident resulted in several lanes on Sunrise Boulevard near the intersection of Old Auburn Road being closed down for at least six hours on Sunday. Sgt. Gutierrez said the extended road closure is standard for any fatality and was necessary for officers to investigate and “forensically map the entire intersection.”

    The 58-year-old driver involved cooperated with the investigation, according to police, and it was determined the vehicle had been traveling on a green light when the collision occurred.

    Although police said Citrus Heights saw no pedestrian fatalities last year, Sunday’s tragedy marks the second such fatality of 2015 within city limits. The incident earlier this year occurred around 2 a.m. on Valentine’s Day at the intersection of Auburn Boulevard and Kanai Avenue, with the 26-year-old woman involved passing away several days later from critical injuries.

    [See story: Police close Auburn Blvd for 10hrs after Valentine’s Day crash]

    “We take this as a critically important issue,” said Sgt. Gutierrez, reflecting on the pedestrian deaths this year. “But it’s important that pedestrians utilize the crosswalks [properly].”

    Gutierrez said neither alcohol nor speed appear to be a factor in Sunday’s collision.
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  • Antelope Road to get new $550,000 stoplight this summer

    Citrus Heights, Amsterdam Avenue, AutumnWood,
    The City of Citrus Heights will install a new signal light at the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and Antelope Road this summer.

    Citrus Heights drivers will soon notice a new light singal at the intersection of Antelope Road and Amsterdam Avenue this summer, located near the “pink house” and historic Rusch Home.

    Amsterdam Avenue resident Carolyn Martinez says traffic has already increased in the area from construction workers and interested buyers using Amsterdam as a main entrance for the new 46-home AutumnWood development.

    “I’m very glad that they’re gonna [construct a new stoplight],” said Martinez, commenting she has a hard time making left turns onto Antelope Road. “It’s necessary because I can’t even get out of my driveway sometimes.”

    City Management Analyst Regina Cave said a date hasn’t been set yet for when the project will begin, but said she hopes construction will start by the end of July or early August. She said traffic signal poles have been ordered, but won’t be delivered until July — and work won’t begin until all the equipment needed is received.

    The total cost of the project will run about $550,000, according to Cave, and will take around two months to complete, once work starts.

  • City gives ‘green light’ for addt’l $2M stoplight on Sunrise Blvd

    A new multimillion-dollar traffic light project on Sunrise Boulevard received the go-ahead from the Citrus Heights city council last month, with work scheduled to begin in November, according to General Services Director David Wheaton.

    Sunrise Blvd, Sungarden Dr. to get new stoplight. Photo credit: Luke Otterstad
    A new traffic light project is expected to begin in November  at the Sunrise Boulevard and Sungarden Drive intersection.

    Located at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Sungarden Drive, City Manager Henry Tingle said the project is expected to take until Spring to finish, and is needed to improve traffic safety at a location where he said people have been hit and killed in the past.

    Asked about impact to traffic, Tingle said drivers “won’t see any delay in where they are going” after the project is finished.

    The project will run between $2.4 to $2.6 million, according to Wheaton, and also includes gutter, curb and sidewalk improvements, as well as several bus stops.

    Funding for the project is provided through a variety of sources, including a Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant, the Gas Tax, Measure A Capital fund, General Capital Improvement Funds, Transportation Development Act and Stormwater Utility funds, according to documents provided to the council by the City’s General Services Division. An estimated $86,600 will also be provided by Sacramento Regional Transit for the cost of the bus stops included in the project.

    Although work on the signal project won’t begin until November, Wheaton said construction activity at the location may be observed starting this week, as the Citrus Heights Water District will be working on a three-week project near the intersection.