Fifth/Pole Line crash still under investigation
Davis police are still investigating Friday’s rollover crash that injured a 25-year-old Davis woman at an East Davis intersection.
However, the Police Department has corrected its earlier version of events, saying now that Megan Galloway was traveling southbound on Pole Line Road at Fifth Street when the driver’s side of her car was struck by a westbound vehicle driven by 56-year-old Jim Provenza of Davis.
Galloway, whose car rolled from the impact, was taken to the UC Davis Medical Center with injuries that police described as “significant” but not life-threatening. Provenza, a member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, was not injured in the 8 a.m. collision.
“As far as determining fault, we can’t do that at this point,” Davis police Lt. Paul Doroshov said Monday. “They both believe they had the right of way, so it’s going to come down to witnesses.”
Doroshov said the officer investigating the crash has additional witnesses to interview before making a recommendation regarding who was at fault in the crash. That recommendation then needs to be approved by a traffic sergeant before the findings are announced.
Meanwhile, police have asked a city electrician to check the traffic signal at Fifth and Pole Line to determine whether it is functioning properly.
The intersection is equipped with red-light cameras but the system has been disabled and was not operating at the time of the crash, Doroshov said.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8048. Follow her on Twitter @laurenkeene
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=53946
Posted by Lauren Keene
on Jun 13 2011.
Last Login: Mon 21 May 2012 04:26:23 PM PDT
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“The intersection is equipped with red-light cameras but the system has been disabled and was not operating at the time of the crash, Doroshov said.”
That is unfortunate. It seems to me the fact that the red-light camera system is dysfunctional is just as newsworthy as the accident itself. Who is at fault for the cameras not working? Who is getting fined or fired because of this? How long has the system been dysfunctional? How much money have the taxpayers foregone because of this dysfunction? Did the City announce in advance that the red light cameras don’t work? If not, why not? They did not take down their signs which say they work and say there is a $370 fine for running a red light.
If it is the case that the red light cameras were fully functional the day before the accident and are now working again, it’s not all that big of a deal. It’s just sad in this one case. But I suspect what we are dealing with here is some kind of incompetence: either the company which built the red light camera system is bad; or our public works department fell is full of people not getting the job done. The public works director should come before the city council and explain why this system does not work.
Interesting update; I wonder whether the police already have determined who was at fault, but are not able to due to rules/protocol (such as the traffic sergeant’s stamp).
Comments on the previous article indicated that Megan had a green light and was struck from the side. The fact that an electrician needs to check the traffic signal’s function is interesting, is the thought that perhaps both lights were green?
Regardless, it doesn’t sound too good for Mr. Provenza in my opinion. Even if Ms. Galloway ran a red light, his vehicle struck hers. This means she was in the intersection ‘first.’ The speed limit there is such that you’d think one would be able to brake/avoid such a collision, following standard driver training about entering intersections. You look both ways.
It’s hard to tell how much stock to put into comments regarding her light was green and there were no skid marks. But if her car physically rolled over from impact, I imagine his speed was pretty great. I thought the limit on that side near the intersection was 35mph. Even if it were 45, I’d imagine he’d have some sort of reaction. Perhaps he did. The worst case scenario was that she ran a full red at such a fast speed such that he had no time to react, but I somehow find that doubtful (though possible).
The police report should be ready by now. Followup story please?