Blog: Another Pedestrian Struck by Car on Rowena in Silver Lake

In the wake of a tragic accident in late March and recent public outcry regarding the safety of Rowena Avenue (between Glendale Boulevard and Hyperion Avenue), there has been yet another accident involving a pedestrian who was struck by a car on this street. More proof that we must do something NOW to make Rowena safer for pedestrians.  

On Tuesday, May 8th, at approximately 7:00 p.m., I was traveling westbound on Rowena Ave., heading to the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council committee meeting to discuss the very issue of pedestrian safety on Rowena.  

As I approached the intersection of West Silver Lake Drive, I saw a man on the street with blood all over his clothes. I arrived probably one minute after the accident. The pedestrian was a 28-30 year old (approx.) male jogger. He was crossing the street at West Silver Lake Drive when he was struck by a car. It is unclear if the car ran a red light. A witness said that the car did not stop at a red light and the jogger was crossing at the crosswalk. Regardless, it was not a pretty sight. The jogger was bloodied, and a witness stated the jogger was tossed in the air like a rag doll. The witness was shocked that the jogger was not more seriously injured. I waited on the sidewalk with the victim, the driver and the witness as the ambulance arrived from nearby Fire Station 56. Attached are photos of the accident scene.

This accident reminds me how precious and fragile life truly is. I could not help but think of 24-year-old Ashley Sandau, who was struck by a car and killed near the same area of Rowena in late March of this year. Since that time, the community has been gathering to discuss possible solutions to make this stretch of Rowena safer.  Ideas such as speed bumps, crosswalks with flashing lights, narrowing the street, and others have been suggested. While we certainly need a short-term solution to make this area safer during the existing LADWP construction, we must also think long-term. We need to consider eliminating a traffic lane in each direction to slow cars and make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street. This area is also very dangerous for cyclists. We need to create dedicated bike lanes with barriers from the traffic to protect cyclists and pedestrians. While these are a few proposed solutions, we need the public to participate by sharing their ideas. If you are a resident living in this area or if you use this street as a pedestrian, cyclist or driver, please give your input and ideas to the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council at an upcoming meeting.