By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Tragically, a woman in a wheelchair was struck and killed by a car while crossing Clovis Avenue in southeast Fresno on Saturday night. The incident occurred around 5:30 pm, prompting police to close the road for several hours during their investigation. The woman was transported to Community Regional Medical Center where she sadly passed away. The driver involved has not yet been located, and police are urging anyone with information to contact them.
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A woman in a wheelchair was struck and killed by a vehicle in southeast Fresno. The incident occurred on Clovis Avenue, a major north-south thoroughfare that acts as a de facto freeway, despite lacking the necessary safety features. The area where the collision happened was poorly lit, without a crosswalk, and situated near an ongoing construction project for a new outdoor shopping mall.
The lack of adequate street lighting and pedestrian crossings, coupled with the high speed of traffic on Clovis Avenue, has raised concerns about the safety of the area. Witnesses have described the speed limit as 45 mph, but drivers often exceed it, reaching speeds of 55 mph or more. The closest crosswalk would have been at the intersection of Clovis Avenue and Kings Canyon Road, several blocks away from the incident.
The incident has sparked discussions about the nature of roads and their impact on pedestrian safety. One comment pointed to the concept of a “stroad,” a term coined for roads that are designed to serve as both a street and a road, combining the worst aspects of each. These roads, common in many American cities, tend to be too fast for pedestrian traffic but too slow and congested for efficient travel.
The design of Clovis Avenue, with its high speed limit, lack of pedestrian infrastructure, and proximity to a construction zone, exemplifies the dangers of stroads. While some commentators have suggested that wheelchair users should have lights on their chairs, like bicycles, others have countered that focusing on the victim instead of the infrastructure is harmful and misses the point.
The incident highlights the need for safer street designs that prioritize pedestrian safety. Implementing measures such as crosswalks, streetlights, and reduced speed limits can help create safer environments for pedestrians.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Police are searching for the driver involved in the collision. The incident has served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unsafe road design and the importance of prioritizing pedestrian safety.