Gary Moskowitz
The death of one of their students near campus last week has made
pedestrian safety a major priority for Crescenta Valley High School
administrators and student leaders.
CV High sophomore Christine Seo, 15, died Feb. 4 after she was hit
by a sport-utility vehicle in a crosswalk at the busy intersection of
Altura and Pennsylvania avenues.
The driver of the SUV was arrested on suspicion of being under the
influence.
The girl's death prompted school and other city leaders to meet
Tuesday morning to discuss changes at the intersection. At the
meeting were city officials, police, county traffic and lighting
representatives, members of the Crescenta Valley Town Council and
Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce, City Councilman Dave Weaver and
other community leaders.
By the end of the meeting, school officials agreed to initiate a
new teen pedestrian safety program sometime this month. County and
city officials agreed to begin a month-long study on what it would
take to install lights, a median, pushed-out curbs and other traffic
aids.
"Students are very angry and sad about her death," said Edward
Han, 17. "It's still really emotional, and people are shaken up about
it."
A petition is circulating at CV High to install a light at the
intersection, said Edward, one of the editors of the school's student
newspaper. The newspaper's staff will publish an edition next week
devoted entirely to the issues of drunken driving and pedestrian
safety and the history of accidents in the area.
As a result of Tuesday's meeting, Principal Linda Evans agreed to
implement a Teen Pedestrian Safety Education Program, which is funded
by the California Office of Traffic Safety and the county Department
of Public Works.
A traffic-safety education firm called Safe Moves will conduct
45-minute programs in ninth-grade classrooms for 35 to 100 students
at a time.
Evans also suggested issuing citations to students who do not push
the button that lights the crosswalk at Altura and Pennsylvania.
"This is a key time for us to move forward with this," Evans said.
"The level of concern among students and parents is high."
Weaver suggested putting a police car, with a mannequin driver
inside, in the intersection in hopes of slowing down drivers. But,
Glendale Police sergeants Lewie Guay and Jim Lowrey did not think
parking a police car at the intersection would help prevent
accidents.
The group will reconvene March 18 at the school.
