Dangerous Broken Arrow Intersection

A Broken Arrow woman is in the hospital in critical condition after a driver ran a red light and slammed into her car.<br/> <br/>It happened Monday night at the intersection of Aspen and Florence in Broken

Tuesday, December 26th 2006, 4:43 pm

By: News On 6

A Broken Arrow woman is in the hospital in critical condition after a driver ran a red light and slammed into her car.

It happened Monday night at the intersection of Aspen and Florence in Broken Arrow.

This isn't the first serious crash, three neighbors tell News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin itâ€™s a dangerous spot and the city needs to do something about it.

"I fear for my daughter and anyone who drives down this street," concerned resident Kim Walker said. "Since we've lived here there's been wrecks non-stop, at least once a month we have a really bad wreck.â€

Christmas day, it happened again. A driver ran a red light, sending three people to the hospital, one critically injured.

Kim Walker lives just up the street, she's seen the aftermath of far too many crashes.

"And they're not little fender benders, they're full fledged T-bones. There's just been a lot of people hurt here, and I just don't know when they're gonna fix the street to make it safer," Walker said.

Walker says one of the biggest problems is the speed limit. Cars crest the hill going at least 50 miles an hour, and for many drivers, a green light at the bottom means speed up and race through, only too often, that light changes before they make it. Combine that with poor visibility, narrow lanes and more drivers on the road.

"With an increase in traffic volumes you're obviously gonna see a lot more traffic collisions occur," Broken Arrow Police Sergeant Ed Ferguson said.

Police say this intersection isn't much worse than others in Broken Arrow. The area is slated for improvements in 2008.

"I don't think we can wait that long, there's been too many injuries," Walker said.

The city has taken steps to help make it safer in the meantime, warning signs, rumble strips, and a flashing strobe in the red light.

Still, some drivers just aren't getting the message.

"What it comes down to is driver behavior, drivers have to make sure that they stop for these red traffic signals," said Sgt. Ferguson.

Broken Arrow voters passed roadway improvements bond measure, which eventually will widen the intersection.

Concerned residents say not soon enough.