Pregnant Woman Struck by Vehicle on Chapelgate

MM November 29, 2012 at 02:12 am

Thoughts and prayers to the young woman, her baby and their family.

Helen November 29, 2012 at 03:37 am

Anxiously awaiting news that mother and baby are ok. For sure well join in prayers fir them both.

Shane Wolfe November 29, 2012 at 11:39 am

I hope everything turns out OK for the victim. We live in Chapelgate and I see close calls all the time. Folks use Chapelgate Road as a shortcut from Piney Orchard to 175 and it's obvious that it is getting out of hand. There are also too many cars parked near the intersections, making it difficult to see what is coming down Chapelgate. I also see people making illegal U-turns and often turning across or into oncoming traffic. This happens mostly at Greyswood and Chapelgate where there is a large cross-walk for kids going to Waugh Chapel Elementary.

Calique November 29, 2012 at 03:24 pm

Was the vehicle on the sidewalk or was the lady in the street? There is a sidewalk on both sides of Chapelgate. Or was she crossing in the middle of the block?

MrTelco1948 November 29, 2012 at 05:30 pm

What difference does it make?

Wanda Morel Holbrook November 29, 2012 at 05:52 pm

She was across from my house where the sidewalk ends. I have been requesting speed humps be put on Chapelgate for over 4 years now and I am not getting anywhere with AA County Traffic Control office.

Wanda Morel Holbrook November 29, 2012 at 05:56 pm

Not even two weeks my daughters car was totaled in front parked in front of my house. Since 2009 I have had my daughters car, a minivan and a tow truck (husbands) totaled while parked in front of my house, I have had several other neighbors cars hit and totaled also. Not to mention two summers ago my house was hit by a drunk driver, now this, I thought, would have been an impossible accident since my house sits very high about the street level on a very steep hill. (If you Google the address you can see what I mean, 615 Chapelgate Drive). I have simply been asking that we have more speed bumps added to our street to prevent further accidents. After last night’s pedestrian hit I knew I had to contact someone who can make this happen in a more timely manner then what the traffic control office is offering. We do have a meeting set up with the county on 2/11/13 at my house, but, again, after last night’s accident we need a solution much sooner before someone is actually killed. I have three children and if one of them is in an accident for any reason I will have to pursue some sort of legal action since I cannot get a resolve. I do not want it to have to come to that, my next step is to contact the news stations to make this a major issue. I have to look out for the safety of my family and neighbors. If anyone has suggestions as to what I can do to speed up the process please contact me at www.faceook.com/wanda.morelholbrook. THANK YOU!!

Shanna November 29, 2012 at 06:24 pm

People also have to be aware of their surroundings and what they are wearing. My friend was behind the truck and he said there were 4 people and all were wearing black and you could not see them. People just assume because they are in the street that cars can see you when they can not.

Calique November 29, 2012 at 06:33 pm

MrTelco, the difference is if it was pedestrian error or driver error. If the lady was crossing in the middle of the block, and/or stepped out in the path of the vehicle, or any number of other possible scenarios, then it is pedestrian error.
If the lady was in the crosswalk and the driver failed to yield to her, (or any number of other possible scenarios) then it is driver error. Just because drivers regularly exceed the speed limit along this road, that does not mean that that is the case here. Many of the recent pedestrian accidents around here recently have been determined to be pedestrian error.

Calique November 29, 2012 at 06:41 pm

Sounds like you need a wider driveway... and a stone wall out front...

Shanna November 29, 2012 at 06:41 pm

He said they crossed at the speed hump and there is only a sidewalk on one side of the street there. He said he felt bad for the man who hit her. He clearly didn't see her.

Calique November 29, 2012 at 06:47 pm

True! Just last night, I was driving up Telegraph Rd after dark, and I saw movement to my right... It was the light-colored shoes of a pedestrian walking on the shoulder, dressed entirely in baggy black clothing. The ONLY thing visible (no streetlights along this section) was his feet!!! Scared the begeezus outta me!

Tim Lemke (Editor) November 29, 2012 at 09:10 pm

This story has been updated with some new details from police.

Steve November 29, 2012 at 11:39 pm

The Maple Ridge homeowners association fought to get the speed hump re-installed after the last repaving. You're probably dealing with Nestor Flores like we did. He will try hard to get you to forget it. The only way we won was a traffic speed study (2009-10?) that showed that Chapelgate met the county requirements for traffic calming. Nestor might try to argue that this study was for Maple Ridge not Chaplegate community but we all know the traffic doesn't change from one block to the next. Call him every day and don't let him think you'll get fed up and give in.

Lisa O November 30, 2012 at 10:47 am

I agree with Calique. Although my heart goes out to this woman and her baby, the fact is that it is not at all unusual to see pedestrians walking in or very close to the street. There are sidewalks for this reason. There are simply not enough street lights to see and are too many cars parked on the shoulder to avoid such a situation if the individual chooses to not use the sidewalk. I live in Chapelgate and have almost hit pedestrians walking in the street many times, by no fault of my own.

Shanna November 30, 2012 at 12:56 pm

The truck swayed over the whtie line? What? That's not true, My friend said he swayed trying to avoid hitting her but he still hit her on the side of the truck. He said he doesn't know about the pregnant woman, but there were 2 other men and another woman with her and all were intoxicated. He said one man left before the police and ambo got there. The other man stayed with her and rubber her belly until help came. He said they were walking in the road down chapelgate hill and attempted to cross at the speed hump. He said when he first turned the corner the truck was approaching them and he himself didn't see them at first but then he caught movement. And the white lines.......to my memory which may not be correct.....don't start until after the speed hump. they have that little island thing right there before the speed hump that MAKES you have to go all the way over to the side of the road when you are coming down the hill into Chapelgate. Seems like they just want to pin it to the driver.

Concerned Chapelgate Citizen December 3, 2012 at 04:25 am

Wanda, I also reside on Chapelgate and I am amazed at the speeds acheived on this road by drivers. I am equally amazed at the daring moves made by pedestrians and kids. I have seen the aftermath of numerous parked cars and trailers being hit and my wife even witnessed a motorcycle driver lay his bike down in front of our house a week ago. Wanda, is it possible to inform all of the residents along Chapelgate of the meeting and for others to participate? Eyewitness accounts from neighbors and news articles like this one demand at least another look and possible study from the traffic control office. When available maybe a few speed enforcement days may make this a safer street. Concerned Citizen

Wanda Morel Holbrook December 3, 2012 at 02:41 pm

Concerned Chapelgate Citizen. The Community Meeting with AA County Traffic office is scheduled for February 11th at 7:00. It is currently scheduled to be at my residence, however the response I am getting is to much so we are trying to get the community meeting room at the Western District Police station on telegraph road. I will update this comment as soon as I have the location pinned down. I have also been in touch with Representative Leopold's office and they are also working the issue for all of Chapelgate Drive. I will keep you informed as soon as I know more.

Calique December 3, 2012 at 02:44 pm

As a former Chaplegate resident (the neighborhood, not the street) I wish you all the best in getting what you need to make it better.