Residents Express Concerns Over Speed Limits
Another child has been hit by a car in Sioux City, just weeks after the death of two other youngsters.
The 10 year old boy was hit while riding through a westside neighborhood, just a block from where Serenity Tweedy was killed about two weeks ago.
The driver fled the scene at West 4th and Rebecca yesterday afternoon.
Fortunately, the boy was not injured.
A witness followed the driver, who was arrested at her home.
This rash of accidents has some parents pushing for a change in their neighborhood.
In just over a month, two young lives have been lost as a result of being hit by a vehicle.
The little boy hit yesterday was lucky- but many parents have had enough, so they're doing something about it.
It was August 12th when six year old Jaxon Stark lost his life after being struck by a semi in the Sioux City northside.
Four year old Serenity Tweedy's life was cut short on September 16th after she was hit by a truck on the westside of Sioux City.
Now, parents in Serenity's West 3rd street neighborhood have had enough, saying change needs to come.
"The high speed is just ridiculous, these are our children, we need to protect them. At 30mph I don't think you can stop if a person came out in front of you." Says Penny Bekish.
The change they want is a lower speed limit.
So, Penny and other residents from her neighborhood brought the matter to the City Council.
"I asked them to lower the speed limit in front of the school to 15mph like it is coming into, for over a block and in front of West Middle School and coming back out. I asked them to lower the speed limit from the school up to Johns street, where its 30mph to 25mph. We are a residential area, we should be 25mph to begin with and especially highly populated with children area." Says Penny.
The city listened, a speed survey on West 3rd to properly handle the matter is in the works.
"What we typically do on a speed survey is look at speeds of 100 cars in each direction assessing the speeds of drivers on West 3rd street, its 16 blocks long, so we will be looking at speeds along an area of four or five blocks to assess a relative speed." - City Engineer, Scott Logan.
Three to four locations will be targeted in the speed survey- one of those could be the very intersection Penny's own daughter was struck at- 13 years ago.
While Penny is sure it will work, only time will tell if she and the other concerned residents will get their wish.
"It will save lives, it will save children's lives."
The speed survey begins Wednesday, but we were asked to not give out specifics, in order for the survey to be accurate and successful.
It'll be several days before the city gets the results, but they could lead to speed limits in that area being lowered.
