By Fran Spielman
Chicago Sun Times
Copyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Chicago Fire Commissioner Ray Orozco said Wednesday he has “no reason to believe” that a veteran firefighter was speeding when he ran over and killed a 70-year-old woman.
Even as he made the remarks, city traffic engineers examined the mid-block crosswalk where the accident occurred for possible safety improvements.
Additional signage, improved pavement markings, hard-wired warning lights and a traffic light — though there’s another one just half a block away — are all possibilities to prevent a repeat of the Monday night accident that killed Carrie Boston, officials said.
“Typically on arterial streets like South Chicago Avenue, traffic lights are located at half-mile intervals. . . . [But] we will look at all possible engineering improvements that might help improve safety at this crosswalk,” said city Transportation Department spokesman Brian Steele after a pair of engineers surveyed the accident scene and met with management of the senior citizens building where Boston lived.
SOLAR-POWERED LIGHTS
Boston’s daughter Belinda Jackson said the crosswalk in the 9200 block of South Chicago where her mother was killed has blinking yellow lights that don’t work at night. They’re solar powered and work from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The accident occurred at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
“They need to make sure the lights are working [all the time] or put up stop lights,” Jackson said. She noted that signs warning motorists of the presence of wheelchairs in the area are “kind of low” and easy to miss while driving past.
Boston was crossing South Chicago Avenue to go to the pharmacy across the street from her building when she was hit by a marked Ford Expedition carrying the Fire Department’s 6th District deputy chief and his driver.
Boston reportedly was dressed in dark clothing and carrying a black umbrella when she stepped off the center median and into the path of the SUV, which was not on an emergency call and did not have its emergency lights or sirens activated.
On Wednesday, Orozco said he has “no reason to believe” that 25-year-veteran firefighter Tom Considine was speeding when he ran over and killed Boston, but he’s ordering the rank-and-file to slow down, nevertheless. Considine, who is taking some time off after the accident, could not be reached for comment.
‘WE’RE ON THE STREET A LOT’
“Do we plan on doing stuff different? Yeah. We’ve talked to everybody. We’ve sent out a directive just to remind everybody. . . . We usually do it in September when the kids go back to school. We’re gonna start to hit it all the time now. We’re just reinforcing with the members just to be more cognizant when you’re on the street. We’re on the street a lot,” Orozco said.
Boston’s son and daughter have accused Considine of going too fast for the slick conditions — especially in front of a senior citizens building where crosswalk signs warn motorists that wheelchairs may be present.
On Wednesday, Belinda Jackson reiterated that claim.
“He’s a 25-year veteran. He probably drives that way every day . . . because he works in the area. He would see senior citizens sitting out there in their wheelchairs. They cross all the time. . . . They’re on their walkers. . . . If he works in that area, why doesn’t he know that area? There’s no excuse. He should have been more cautious,” Jackson said.