Pedestrian tales from the middle of the road, #1Another day, another dead pedestrian in the middle of the road where they shouldn't have been...In the past, I've written letters to our liberal local newspaper, the
Orlando Sentinel. I've called numerous times and had lengthy conversations with at least 3 columnists there regarding the deadly serious issue of jaywalking here in Orlando- and my comments have continuously fallen upon deaf ears. I've spoken on a number of different occasions, I've spoken with members of the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.
A lot of folks just walk in the middle of the street here...and the result is that a lot of folks end up dead. Enforcement of our pedestrian traffic laws is simply not a big priority around here- and based on the number of folks that wander out
or race out in the street in front of me every day, that's just fine. I'd bet that would change if you were, say, a family member of the gentleman in the following story.
I bet his family wishes he hadn't been in the middle of the street at 4:45 a.m.So here's what I'm going to do: from time to time, I'm going to post these "pedestrian in the street" articles.
While the Orlando Sentinel, MetroPlan Orlando and others willfully turn a blind eye to folks' blatant disregard for pedestrian traffic rules- even to the point of claiming folks around here are scared to walk our sidewalks- I'll shed light on folks that
should've been on those sidewalks and the law enforcement organization that should've held them to it.
Chief Paul Rooney and the Orlando Police Department, this one's for you.
P.S.: If you think this might be kind of a harsh thing, so be it. But I'd venture to say it's
nothing compared to the thoughts this driver will have for the rest of her young life- and the feelings of guilt she'll carry for having taken the life of an even younger person who was simply where he shouldn't have been.
Pedestrian tales from the middle of the road, #118-year-old pedestrian struck, killed by vehicle on Edgewater Drive
By David Breen, Orlando Sentinel
1:04 p.m. EST, December 3, 2011
An 18-year-old Orlando man was hit by a vehicle and killed early this morning on Edgewater Drive.
Kyle Alan Frazier was in the northbound lanes of Edgewater Drive near Thistledown Drive at about 4:45 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
A 1999 Chevy Blazer driven by Jennifer Lyn Echegaray, 28, struck Frazier, FHP said.
The crash remains under investigation, according to FHP.
Pedestrian tales from the middle of the road, #1
