Crosswalk concerns following Las Cruces hit and run pedestrian crash

A hit and run incident involving Las Cruces twin sisters, is shedding light on the dangerous situation pedestrians face daily.

Our New Mexico Mobile Newsroom demonstrated the difficulties when crossing the crosswalk on Picacho Avenue near Melendres Street-where Anabel and Alejandra Dorado were struck Monday afternoon.

“Its a daily occurrence,” Tom Conner, who owns a radiator shop near the crosswalk on Picacho, said.

He tells Abc-7 he witnesses close calls there several times a day.

“There’s always a hazard at this area,” Conner said.

After hearing Conner’s concerns, Abc-7 attempted to cross the busy road.

At one in the afternoon, Abc-7 tried it out. Several cars failed to yield.

Later, at four in the afternoon, Abc-7 tried it again. There was more traffic and several drivers failed to yield and sped off.

Conner says making the crosswalk more visible to drivers would help but the New Mexico Department of Transportation says that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll prevent similar incidents.

“Some people say, well put up more signs. Well then we inundate the roads with too many signs and people just don’t pay attention at all,” Bridget Spedalieri, with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, said.

At the end of the day, Conner says he just wants to make sure people are safe.

“Bad things can happen, we just need this to be taken care of,” Conner said.

The department of transportation says they will review this crosswalk in order to determine whether more signage or lights will be added.

The penalty for failing to yield to drivers, is a $92 fine.
Charges against the driver in this case, are still pending.