Another Fatal Collision on Mission Street

On May 26 2002, Vincent James Enrico, 48, was killed while trying to cross 1600 block of Mission Street, near the Bank of America. Many people first learned of this fatal collision when news that Officer Ken Black had been injured while investigating it made the front page of the Santa Cruz Sentinel

The May 26 fatality was the second pedestrian death since Mission Street was widened - the first occurred on December 22, 2001.

We do not have a full picture of what led to these deaths, since details have not been released by the Police Department.

However, it is well known that speeds on Mission Street have increased, and that a pedestrian's chance of being killed in a collision increases dramatically with motorist speed.

Let's not interpret this news as a reason to stop walking. When people feel they need to get in their cars in order to be safe, both individual and community health are damaged.

As citizens and pedestrians, there's much we can do rather than give up our right to walk safely in our own neighborhoods.

As a result of lobbying efforts by Mission Pedestrian, Caltrans has agreed to install a flashing beacon over the crosswalk at Mission and Olive, and to investigate further pedestrian improvements. Please add your voice to the call for enforcing the speed limit and improving pedestrian safety on Mission Street.