FRESNO, Calif. – A Fresno resident has been pleading with the city for the past 18 months to install a stop sign in front of his house due to frequent accidents.
Ruben Almaraz, the concerned citizen, says he is constantly vigilant because speeding drivers fail to slow down in his neighborhood. He worries about the safety of his seven-year-old son, often instructing him to hold his hand when they are outside.
Almaraz’s fears were reinforced on Tuesday when he narrowly avoided being struck by a car involved in a serious accident while retrieving his mail. Surveillance footage captured the terrifying moment as a car running a stop sign crashed into another vehicle, leaving Almaraz scrambling to get out of harm’s way. The collision also mangled his mailbox.
Having lived near the intersection for five years, Almaraz has become accustomed to these hazardous conditions. He notes that the area is prone to accidents, especially in the dark, prompting him to use a flashlight to signal his presence to passing vehicles.
Resolving the issue requires collaboration between Fresno City District 5 and Fresno County. Almaraz has reached out to Fresno City Council Member Luis Chavez’s office multiple times but has only received responses from staff members after two months. The responses acknowledged his proposal but did not offer any funding support.
Almaraz raises concerns about the significant delays in addressing the issue, questioning whether action will only be taken after a tragedy occurs. He insists that the installation of a stop sign with flashing lights would be a cost-effective solution.
Fresno City Council Member Luis Chavez acknowledges the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing the need to prevent future accidents. He has made addressing this intersection a top priority for the upcoming budget meeting and apologized to Almaraz for the delayed response.
Several months ago, the Fresno Police Department identified the intersection as a high-priority area for the installation of a stop sign. However, there has been no response from Fresno County regarding the matter.
In conclusion, Ruben Almaraz of Fresno, California, has been urging local authorities for more than a year to install a stop sign near his house to mitigate the frequent accidents. While the issue has garnered attention from Fresno City Council Member Luis Chavez and the Fresno Police Department, there has been no tangible progress in resolving the problem.