Fremont settles crosswalk case for more than $4 million
FREMONT >> The city of Fremont has agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle a lawsuit by a former nurse at Washington Hospital who was severely injured when she was hit by a car in a crosswalk.
Former nurse Rashael Hill-Azah was using the pedestrian crosswalk on May 7, 2013, on Civic Center Drive near the hospital when she was struck by a Cadillac Escalade. The driver of the Cadillac did not see her because the pedestrian was blocked by an AC Transit bus that was stopped at the curbside lane in front of the crosswalk, according to court documents.
The crosswalk, which had flashing beacons posted at its ends, is located near the emergency room entrance of Washington Hospital and has been the subject of several serious crashes involving pedestrians and motorists.
After multiple crashes starting in 2008, including several catastrophic ones, the city and hospital hired consultants in 2012, which made safety improvement recommendations, including relocating the bus stop beyond the crosswalk and installing an advance warning system. The city ignored those recommendations, the lawsuit said. There were at least nine reported crashes from 2008 to 2013, according to the city.
In October 2013, Washington Hospital presented a petition to the Fremont City Council, demanding a traffic light and slower traffic.
In June 2013, a month after Hill-Azah was struck, Washington Hospital helped remov one traffic lane in each direction and added a bicycle lane in its place. The reduction in lanes.
In early 2014, the city hired a pedestrian safety consultant to evaluate how to further enhance safety in the crosswalk, and made a number of changes based on the consultant report, including updating the flashing beacons to a more rapid, alternating pattern.
The lights can also be triggered by motion in the crosswalk, instead of requiring a pedestrian to push a button to activate them.
The city also reduced the width of roadway lanes to 9 feet, added more buffer striping and closed a northbound left-turn lane.