Traffic lights, crosswalks to be installed at busy intersection

A Bonneville County woman was hit by a car last night while she was walking across what police say is one of the most dangerous intersections.

It happened at Ammon Road and 1st Street near the Country Corner store. The woman was taken to the hospital and released.

This is the 4th time in the last few years that someone has been hit by a car while trying to cross the street.

Part of the problem is that there are no crosswalks here, but it’s not always the driver’s fault.

With close to a dozen vehicles traveling through Ammon and 1st Street every 5 minutes, this intersection is one of the busiest in the county and one with a high number of accidents.

“The one last night was actually a 57-year-old lady, then there was an 11-year-old girl, a 12-year old boy, and a 19-year-old girl,” said Sgt. Jeff Edwards. “The 19-year-old was riding a bicycle, but the other three were crossing this section near Country Corner.”

The convenience store is usually the destination for most pedestrians and without crosswalks, many are under the impression they can cross anywhere and technically, it isn’t considered jaywalking.

“In cities and things like that, you actually have ordinances for that,” said Edwards. “The interesting part is if there’s no crosswalk provided at the intersection, how could you enforce a jaywalking-type charge?”

And Sgt. Jeff Edwards said part of the problem is a break in this apartment complex fence.

“This break in the fence is actually about 256 feet from the intersection,” said Edwards. “The biggest issue with this is people tend to come through here and cross directly to the store.”

The intersection has caught the attention of the county’s planning and zoning department and next year, traffic lights and crosswalks will be added.

It’ll be about a $300,000 project but in the meantime, deputies said it’s best to cross at the stop signs and make eye contact with drivers before walking.