Sometimes the news lands in our lap here at the Optimist, and that has happened quite literally twice in the past few weeks.
Mid-morning last Thursday (Oct. 20) an awful smashing sound could be heard outside the Optimist office on 47A Ave. and Delta Street. For the second time in as many weeks, a serious motor vehicle collision took place right outside our door.
Our staff rushed out to assist, while reporter Mark Booth called 911. The fire department, paramedics and police soon arrived on scene.
Both vehicles were smashed up, the drivers both shaken up, but thankfully did not appear to be injured.
In late September, a truck travelling at a high rate of speed smashed into a parked vehicle right out front of our office. Once again, a lot of damage to the vehicles, but no serious injuries.
Both of these incidents involved high rates of speed and driver in-attention, and it prompted a call to the City of Delta’s engineering department by reporter Sandor Gyarmati to ask for a safety review of the intersection.
Director of Engineering Steven Lan got back to us right away, thanking us for bringing this matter to their attention and a safety review would be undertaken.
I think a stop light should be installed at this intersection. Currently there is a controlled cross walk signal, but many times even pushing the light to cross you are taking your life into your own hands. Drivers are tearing down the street at high rates of speed. Turning right or left off 47A or Delta Street you often encounter a blind spot as parked vehicles on all sides of the street block your views making it very tricky to see the on-coming traffic. This was likely the case in this latest collision and as I said, speed is always an issue.
I’m thankful that in both cases there were no serious injuries. I’m thankful a safety review will take place. Hopefully something will be done. We might not be so fortunate the next time a collision comes knocking on our door.
