Driver Runs Red Light on Main St, Causes Another to Jump Curb and Crash into Post

Anyone who spends any time getting around on foot in the Village of Pittsford knows that it is no easy task to get a driver to stop for a pedestrian waiting at a crosswalk. It’s so difficult to get drivers’ attention that we’ve resorted to bright ridiculous orange flags right now to help us not be crushed by an inattentive driver. Hell, it’s even hard to cross when you are at an intersection WITH a traffic signal and you HAVE the right of way. One trip through the 4-corners and you know that you have to watch for speeding left turners and right turners, let alone those trying to get through the light before it turns red.

We generally think we are safe on the sidewalk. Apparently, that is now a place we are no longer safe either.

Saturday night around 9:45, a driver heading north on Main St. ran a red light and hit a driver heading east on Monroe Ave that had a green light. The crash caused the driver heading east on Monroe to jump the curb, drive up on the sidewalk and and hit a post [see photo up top.] Luckily, no pedestrians were injured. The driver who had the green light was taken to the hospital due to some pain. We do not know anything beyond what the official report provided.

The driver who ran the red light was issued citations for unreasonable speed and passing a red light. The driver was given a sobriety test and passed, although was cited for having alcohol in the vehicle.

We wait at this corner a lot — to run errands, go to meetings, visit the library, and go to local bars and restaurants (bonus: we don’t have to assign a designated driver). Our kids wait here to go to Starbucks. A LOT. Our village is a beautiful place to walk when the cars stay off the sidewalk.

We pedestrians keep being told to wear bright clothing at night to be seen by drivers. You should see the flashing light/reflective vest get-ups we wear around town so we can just cross the street to get home safely (people always ask me if I’m a crossing guard; “No, just trying to cross Monroe Ave.”)  Apparently, we need to add a suit of armor to the list now.