Look Up Lebo, Look Down Lebo, Look Out Lebo - Which is it?

Another pedestrian was hit last month. The media report for the pedestrian who was hit near Mayfair on December 7th, was sent while I was on vacation.

From: Aaron Lauth [mailto:alauth@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2016 9:33 AM
To: Lebo Citizens Reader
Subject: Re: hit pedestrian

On December 7, 2016 at approximately 10:07 am, Mt. Lebanon Police responded with other emergency services to the area of 205 Woodhaven Drive to investigate a reported motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash.  Upon arrival, it was determined that the crash had originally occurred on Mayfair Drive at its intersection with Washington Road.  The striking vehicle and driver were now in front of the residence at 205 Woodhaven Drive.  An investigation of Mayfair Drive at its intersection with Washington Road revealed that there were no adverse conditions and the roadway was dry/free of defects at the time of the crash. 

Officers spoke with the 59 yr old female driver who related that she was driving her vehicle, a 2014 white Nissan, eastbound in the right curb lane of Mayfair Drive near its intersection with Washington Road.  She observed a steady red signal at the intersection and noticed a large amount of traffic in the area. The driver related that she "may have been distracted" and began to turn right (southbound) onto Washington Road.  As she turned, she struck a pedestrian within the marked crosswalk on Mayfair Drive.  She then stopped her vehicle and checked on the pedestrian.  Officers did not observe any damage to the vehicle as a result of the crash.

Officers then spoke with the 16 yr old male pedestrian.  The pedestrian stated that he was walking northbound on the western side sidewalk along Washington Road approaching its intersection with Mayfair Drive.  He observed the "Walk" signal at the intersection and began to cross Mayfair Drive within the marked crosswalk.  As he was walking within the crosswalk, he was struck on his left side by the vehicle.  He then fell forward toward the ground.  The pedestrian related that as he fell, the vehicle rolled along/over his left leg, from foot to knee.  He complained of left ankle and shin pain as a result of the crash.  Officers observed that the pedestrian sustained minor abrasions to both knees as a result of the crash. MRTSA was requested to the scene for an evaluation. The pedestrian was ultimately transported to St. Clair Hospital by his father.

No other witnesses were identified for this incident.  The driver was ultimately issued a citation for the following violation of the PA Vehicle Code:

Section 3542(a) - Failure to Yield to Pedestrian in Crosswalk 

Aaron V. Lauth

Chief of Police

Mt Lebanon Police Department

555 Washington Road

Pittsburgh, PA  15228

(412)343-4015

alauth@mtlebanon.org

www.mtlebanonpd.org

 

FBI NA Session #264

ANOTHER pedestrian hit in a crosswalk

Chief Lauth issued this media release: 

On 03/17/16 at approximately 1839 hours, MLPD officers were dispatched to the area of Washington Rd. and Peermont Ave. in reference to a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash.  

The pedestrian (F/50 yrs old) stated that she was struck by a vehicle as she was attempting to cross Washington Rd.  She reported that she was not injured and explained that she was walking across the roadway (from east to west) at the intersection of Washington Rd. and Peermont Ave. when she was struck by a red Kia Sportage.  The pedestrian advised that she was in the crosswalk when she was struck and that she is positive that she had a steady "walk" signal.  She stated that she was struck just as she entered the southbound center travel lane on Washington Rd.

The driver (F/23 yrs old) of the Kia Sportage stated that she was attempting to make the left turn from Peermont Ave. onto Washington Rd. when she struck the pedestrian.  The driver related that the traffic light at the intersection of Peermont Ave. and Washington Rd. was green when she made the turn.  She reported that the pedestrian was in the crosswalk when she struck her.

The investigating officer issued a traffic citation to the driver of the Kia Sportage at the scene.  She was charged with the following:

PAVC 3113(a)(1) - Pedestrian Control Signals.
Aaron V. Lauth
Chief of Police
Mt Lebanon Police Department
555 Washington Road
Pittsburgh, PA  15228
(412)343-4015
alauth@mtlebanon.org
www.mtlebanonpd.org

The driver is 23 year old Della Parker.

But if you write to the commission about the pedestrian ordinance, this is what you get back, just three days after the above pedestrian was hit:

---

From: jbendel@mtlebanon.org
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 21:16:07 -0400
Subject: Re: New local jaywalking ordinance a big mistake
To:Mt. Lebanon Citizen

Mt. Lebanon Citizen,

You and I discussed the ordinance prior to the commission's vote. I appreciate your opinion and passion for the issue, but we have passed the ordinance unanimously and are now developing our safe driving/walking/biking campaign.

Regards,

*********

John,

  Maybe you should fix the broken pedestrian signals before passing ordinances penalizing them.

See attached photos on Washington Road at Mayfair Drive Saturday 19-MAR-2016.

They show a walk signal that will never allow a pedestrian to legally walk because

the "beg button" is broken. The "Do Not Cross" yellow tape around the pole is an economical way

for Lebo to fix it, while fining and giving criminal records to people who attempt to cross there.

The municipality should have made sure the infrastructure was in working order before

the commission made crossing the street in Mt. Lebanon a criminal act.

You should be ashamed of yourself for your poor decision making as an elected official.

  

**********

Perhaps this should be in every Mt. Lebanon resident's wardrobe: http://www.cafepress.com/+jaywalker+t-shirts

Then there are these comments:  https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/47d9lf/in_defense_of_mt_lebanons_walkers/

This comment says it all: 

"It defies common sense to ticket someone who is entering a crosswalk as the countdown begins when they still have time to cross the street safely without disrupting traffic."
- L.A. Councilman Mike Bonin
http://laist.com/2015/05/05/crosswalk_tickets.php