Spooky skeletal reminder to slow down at West El Paso intersection

Even in the heart of January, it still looks a little like Halloween in one West El Paso front yard.

Skeletons, dressed head to toe in orange prison jumpsuits, look out at the three-way intersection of Belvidere and Bellacumbre.

That’s where Jim Oakes lives.

“There is a culture of death at this intersection,” Oakes said. “And there is an amazing sense of entitlement among these drivers.”

He says his skeletons serve as both a reminder to slow down and a warning for what could happen if drivers do not obey the stop signs.

Oakes says he complained to the city and El Paso Police and installed cameras outside his home to collect evidence of drivers failing to stop.

“The city’s response has been disappointing to say the least. We need speed bumps.”

ABC-7 witnessed several drivers blowing through the stop signs. There are no crosswalks at the intersection. Oakes recalls a close call with his father.

“I’m thinking she’s [the driver] is going to stop and she fails to stop. I pull my father back. He goes forward, but I’m able to grab him.”

While Oakes has his complaints with the city and drivers, neighbors have their own for him. One sent him a card that reads, “I understand you’re making a political statement, but the children don’t understand”.

“As far as I’m concerned, [the skeletons] can stay up until the city takes meaningful action,” Oakes said.

Oakes had flags up before the skeletons, but he says they were stolen. He hopes his security cameras discourage anyone from repeating that theft.

The speed limit posted on Belvidere is 30 miles per hour.