Changes Coming to Deadly Chula Vista Intersection

Approximately one month after two people were killed at the intersection of Telegraph Canyon Road and Apache Drive, officials detailed coming alterations to one of the busiest, and deadliest, intersections in San Diego.

The posted speed limit on Telegraph Canyon Road ranges between 45 and 50mph, but some say cars often go well above that speed, making the road very dangerous.

Chula Vista Mayor John McCann is calling for changes to make Telegraph Canyon Road safer. On Wednesday, he announced the city has made the intersection at Old Telegraph Canyon Road and Telegraph Canyon Road a right turn only.

For the Mayor, safety at this intersection is a personal issue. Ten years ago, he was seriously injured at that exact location when a driver going 87mph hit him.

“I was in a coma for almost two weeks. I was in the hospital for several months, and in rehabilitation for almost six months,” McCann said. “We want to make sure that we’re keeping everybody as safe as possible,” McCann said.

McCann said traffic safety and public works will conduct a four-week study of Telegraph Canyon Road. They will review crash history, speed, infrastructure, lighting and enforcement, and they will assess what changes are needed to make the road safer, according to the mayor.

One area resident welcomed the changes. Dr. Rick Chac is an OB-GYN doctor in Chula Vista. His office sits at the corner of Old Telegraph Canyon Road and Telegraph Canyon Road. He has been at that location for six years. “In that short amount of time, we’ve seen at least ten accidents,” Chac said.

“A lot of patients and people have made a left turn here, which has caused a couple of accidents, and tragically, we’ve seen a couple of bad accidents. I think an elderly woman lost her life a couple of years ago here,” Chac said.

Excessive Speed and Car Crashes

Driver error, such as excessive speed, causes over 90 percent of car crashes. Other factors, such as poor road design or maintenance, often contribute to vehicle collisions. In a few cases (less than 10 percent of car wrecks), these issues substantially cause crashes. These legal actions involve some special rules. More on that below.

Excessive speed is one of the most common, and most dangerous, kinds of driver error. High velocity increases the risk of a wreck and the force in a collision.

Velocity multiplies stopping distance, decreasing the amount of time drivers have to react to avoid accidents, which the duty of care requires them to do. At 30mph, stopping distance is about six car lengths. Stopping distance multiplies to eighteen car lengths at 60mph. Other factors, such as poor road design, increase the distance even further.

Newton’s Second Law of Gravity holds true in car crash cases. Speed multiples the force in any collision between two objects. This multiplier transforms “fender benders” into serious injury collisions.

What Happens When You Sue City Hall

Motorists have a duty to avoid accidents, and governments have a duty to prevent them. However, defective road cases are complex, because of the sovereign immunity doctrine. This same doctrine protects police officers from liability in reckless shooting cases.

Usually, an Oceanside personal injury lawyer may file an action if a ministerial error, as opposed to a discretionary error, causes a collision.

A ministerial task is something that requires no forethought or planning. Replacing burned-out bulbs and trimming tree branches away from signs are examples of ministerial tasks. The changes mentioned in the above article are examples of discretionary tasks.

Connect With a Thorough San Diego County Lawyer

Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Oceanside, contact the Pursley Law Firm. We routinely handle matters throughout the Golden State.

Source:

nbcsandiego.com/news/local/chula-vista-telegraph-canyon-road-changes/3899117/