Warr Acres Police Warn Pedestrians, Drivers After 2 Accidents

By Adrianna Iwasinski, NEWS 9

WARR ACRES, Oklahoma -- Recent car accidents involving pedestrians getting hit have caused police to ask the public to be more aware when driving, walking and biking.

Thursday night, a 14-year-old girl was hit by a car while she was crossing the street on N.W. 50th Street near Ann Arbor Avenue. Warr Acres police said she was taken to the hospital where she was treated and released at about 3 a.m. Friday morning.

"The driver did stop and render aid," said Warr Acres Police Major Hugh Osborn. "The driver states she saw her in the road and tried to swerve and miss her but couldn't."

Osborn said witness reports stated the teenager was in the vicinity of a crosswalk but crossed about 20 feet away when she was struck.

The incident is the second auto-pedestrian accident in as many days. Tuesday, a boy riding a bike darted across the road and was hit by a car. He was not seriously hurt.

Osborn also stated the city does have a jaywalking law on the books, but officers hand out more verbal warnings than anything else.

Police identified a pedestrian problem about four years ago, especially with all the foot and vehicle traffic that occurs during football games at Putnam City's stadium. They began using the school zone lights and enforcing the 25 mph speed limit during the hours of 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. during game days to try to make drivers more aware.

But police said pedestrians need to be more aware too, and cross at the crosswalks, not wherever they please. Osborn said this is especially true now that it is getting darker sooner.

Oklahoma City does not have a law on the books against jaywalking, but police are still encouraging people to use the crosswalks for their own safety.

More:

• 14-Year-old Hit by Vehicle in Warr Acres