Tragic accident was waiting to happen

The accident on Pleasant Hill Road that took the life of John Rigdon was very unfortunate and confirms the concerns of many.

For 32 years I have been running to and from the Prairie Path on Pleasant Hill Road. I have witnessed and have had numerous close calls. Stepping down into the ditch or turning into a driveway is the usual method of avoiding a problem caused by the limited space and traffic flow.

Pleasant Hill between Jerome and the path is heavily traveled by runners, walkers and cyclists. During the spring and fall there are children going to and from school. The shoulders are very narrow and not always usable as lawn waste, garbage cans and scrap items are regularly placed on the shoulders forcing travelers to go around and onto the roadway. In addition to traversing the narrow shoulders you must watch out for motorists rolling through stop signs on the side streets.

Vehicles travel at a relatively high speed, when you consider the amount of non-vehicle traffic, the narrow shoulders and the lack of sidewalks. At one point the shoulder is almost non-existing as it slopes directly from the roadway into the ditch.

Many of us have been concerned for years over the dangerous conditions but no one I have spoken to was aware of Mr. Sperl's meeting regarding pathways in 2007.

Hopefully something will now move forward to give people living in the Pleasant Hill area safe access to the Prairie Path.

James S. Cox

Wheaton