UPDATE: Man Struck, Killed by Car on Crystal Sidewalk ID’d
Some Crystal residents say there should be safety improvements after a two-vehicle crash killed a man who was walking down a sidewalk. On Thursday, March 4, the victim was walking near Cub Foods off 36th Avenue in Crystal when one of the cars hit him.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identified the man as David Jones, 66, of Golden Valley.
Yellow marks in the road show where the crash happened. The victim’s son visited the accident scene Friday. He didn’t want to go on camera, but he did say his father was in his 60s and was out on a daily walk when he was hit and killed.
Yellow marks along 36th Avenue in Crystal show where a man was struck by a vehicle while on a sidewalk.
Robbinsdale resident Leo Wren says he lives a block away from the accident scene.
“There was glass everywhere. I saw two cars flipped,” said Wren, who went to the scene shortly after the accident.
Wren said many people walk this area to go to nearby shops. But he says it’s so dangerous, he won’t let his two children walk in the area.
“I try to make sure they stay in the yard. I don’t want them even riding on the path walk because I’m not sure if anybody will run up on the curb,” he said.
Some Call for Increased Traffic Safety Measures
The speed limit along 36th Avenue is 30 miles per hour, but Crystal police say a lot of speeding happens in this area.
“It’s very dangerous,” pedestrian Cody Minikus told CCX News. “They are not going 30. They’re going more like 40-50 miles per hour.”
Now, residents are calling for more safety measures.
“They need to put cameras up so if something does happen, if someone does get it or runs a red light, they need to get a picture of that license plate,” said Minikus.
Wren also feels something should be done to cut down on crashes in the area.
“I really feel like there should be a stop sign in this area for them to slow it down so that way there won’t be no more bad car accidents,” said Wren.
Crystal police say distracted driving may have played a role in the crash. If you have any information give them a call.
