Calls for stoplight at 51st and Troost grow after pedestrian hit and killed
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A person died Thursday after being hit by a car at E. 51st Street and Troost Avenue.
KD says the pedestrian was trying to cross the street but was hit by a car and sent to the hospital. The pedestrian later died due to their injuries. The driver is being investigated for a possible DUI, but stayed at the scene and cooperated.
However, people who live near the intersection say the fatal crash could have been avoided if a stoplight was installed at the intersection.
“It’s almost like you take your life into your hands when you try to cross this street,” said Wanda Shafer, who lives nearby. Shafer is the Secretary of the 49/63 Neighborhood Coalition, which is made up of 10 different neighborhoods between 49th and 63rd Streets between the Paseo and Oak Street.
The posted speed limit at 51st and Troost is 35 miles per hour, but many people appear to go much faster than that.
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“I think it’s frequent that almost everybody goes 40,” said Doug Shafer, who was an eyewitness for Thursday’s fatal pedestrian crash. “It’s an intersection where very few people pay attention to the crosswalk, even when the light is flashing.”
“We’ve asked for a stoplight to be at this intersection for the last few years,” added Wanda Shafer.
Instead of a stoplight, the city installed a crosswalk with signs that light up when pedestrians want to cross. However, those that walk the intersection daily say it doesn’t help.
“It’s not effective because people are not accustomed to seeing it,” Wanda Shafer said. “I’ll be standing right there, and people will be whizzing by, whizzing by, whizzing by.”
Nearby residents say something needs to be installed over the street – whether that be a full-fledged stoplight or some other device.
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“There are people that run orange and slightly red lights, but I think a red light actually would make it easier for pedestrians to cross,” Doug Shafer said. “There is a huge amount of pedestrian traffic here. Troost Avenue is a through street. People are crossing, but the traffic is a lot faster than they are in say, the Crossroads or downtown.”
of the 49/63 Neighborhood Coalition told KCTV5 city councilperson Ryana Parks-Shaw is scheduled to visit the neighborhood next week. The neighborhood coalition plans to raise their concerns about the intersection with her then.
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