A pedestrian is hit after getting off a city bus and some say it was bound to happen. It was just off 83rd and Cass Thursday afternoon. The man was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay. But it’s raising concerns about the intersection after the city turned off the lights after a traffic study revealed it wasn’t necessary.
LaVisha Glenn crosses the street at 83rd and Cass on a regular basis. She lives just down the street and has gotten used to the intersection not having a light.
“We do walking and drive and it doesn't bother me too much,” said Glenn. “With the traffic light here and there it kind of regulates it and gives you a chance to get across.”
But when she learned that a pedestrian was hit at the intersection Thursday afternoon she was shocked.
The bus driver tells Channel Six News she let a man off at 83rd and Cass. She says the man crossed in front of her bus and tried to cross the street. He walked into the path of a car that was legally passing the bus.
“Any street that you get off the bus that's the risk you run because you can't see on the other side of the bus,” said Glenn.
The man was taken to the hospital with a broken leg or ankle. Even though Glenn is surprised, she doesn't think the intersection is dangerous.
“When we're driving and we're waiting right here I actually like it that it's more or less a stop sign. There’s a lot of flow going this way but here nothing going that way,” said Glenn.
But several nearby businesses are concerned. We spoke with the folks here at Big Red Sports Bar. They say two months ago when the lights went out, they started monitoring the traffic on a camera. They tell Channel Six they've recorded dozens of near accidents.
We monitored the intersection for 30 minutes during rush hour. There were no close calls but we saw several cars waiting to turn left for several minutes.
Glenn says the solution is simple.
“Slow down and kind of see what's going on because that's a life at risk,” said Glenn.
Councilman Pete Festersen said Thursday’s accident got his attention. He’s requested that Public Works Department reconsider the options for this intersection.
In the meantime they are still taking public input. You can call 402-444-5160.
