SAN DIEGO — A San Diego community is calling for increased safety measures on El Cajon Boulevard after a pedestrian was killed Monday night while trying to cross the street. A local group wants more crosswalks and the speed limit reduced.
“We know it’s a deadly corridor. We know that people speed through there and it is only two lanes,” said Tootie Thomas, executive director of the Boulevard Business Improvement Association.
The group is calling for the increased safety measures after a 63-year-old woman was killed as she was crossing the street at El Cajon Boulevard and 46th Street. A 79-year-old man ran into her pinning her underneath his silver Lexus.
Darrell Mayo works at San Diego Small Engine in the area and said his boss tried to save the woman by jacking up the car to get her out.
A roadside memorial of roses and poinsettias were placed where the woman was killed.
“[It’s] just sad,” Mayo said.
Tootie Thomas says he is making it his mission to get the speed limit lowered.
“We have two different speed limits on the boulevard - it is 30 and 35 and in that area it’s 35 - so if you were going 5 miles over the speed limit that is 40 mph on a two-lane road,” said Thomas.
He says pedestrians don’t have enough time to cross and there aren't enough crosswalks, so his group bought the San Diego Police Department’s Mid City Division a new speed indicator and planned to present it to officers Tuesday night until the deadly pedestrian crash occurred.
“Tonight, instead of doing a celebration, we will be holding a vigil because I think it is important to remind the community of the dangers that are out there,” Thomas said.
It’s not the first time there’s been a deadly El Cajon Boulevard crash. Several have occurred over the years including one where a pedestrian man died.
“I had asked for a crossing from the city at that place, three or four times. And we were turned down every time right where he got killed,” Thomas said.
The Boulevard Business Improvement Association hope this latest pedestrian death won’t be in vain.
"The family of this lady, I want them to know that we are not going to forget her, we are not going to let this go,” said Thomas.