The Willow Glen Resident

Accident illustrates Willow's traffic woes, say residents

Pedestrian hit crossing Willow on her way to Bramhall Park

By Cecily Barnes

A 56-year-old woman was hit by a car and seriously injured while crossing Willow Street at Camino Pablo Friday evening. She is currently in intensive care at Valley Medical Center, confirmed Hans Nyors, a friend of the family.

"It's quite serious. All of her ribs were broken, her lungs were collapsed and there's possible paralysis," Nyors said. "She had to go into surgery for possible leakage into her brain."

Mary Nail was halfway to Bramhall Park at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 when she was struck down by a 1992 two-door Geo Metro, according to Sgt. Bob Beams, public information officer for the San Jose Police Department. The driver was reportedly driving at the speed limit, but the fading daylight made it difficult for the driver to see, Beams said.

"It was dark, and apparently the pedestrian walked into her path," Beams said. "She tried to stop her vehicle, but it was too late."

Fire trucks were first on the scene, followed by police cars and an ambulance. Nail was transported to Valley Medical Center by paramedics, where she was diagnosed with lacerations to the head and broken bones.

Witnesses say the incident was loud enough to summon them from their homes.

"I was watching television in the kitchen when I heard the impact," Camino Pablo resident John Metranga said. "I came outside to see what was going on, and she was lying in the street."

After spotting Nail in the road, Metranga phoned 911. When he went back outside, the fire department had already arrived.

Patsy Neher also heard the accident while standing outside her home on Camino Pablo. She ran home and grabbed blankets for Nail, who didn't seem to be responsive.

"It was devasting," Neher said. "This is a neighborhood street, and to see someone who didn't look like they were going to make it was very frightening."

Neher, Metranga and other nearby residents say traffic on Willow Street has gotten progressively worse over the years. Metranga, who has lived off Willow Street since 1941, says he sees park-goers battle the traffic every day.

"We have such a nice playground here for the children, but these young mothers try to get across the street and people won't let them," Metranga said. "This a very heavily traveled road, and traffic is altogether too fast. At night cars go through here at 50 or 60 mph."

Willow Street resident Lisa Cantrell says she won't even let her children play in front of the house because cars have slammed into their fence before.

"We never know when there is going to be an accident," Cantrell said. "I purposely plan not to go out during rush hour."

And while most parents make sure their children have an adult walk them across Willow Street, elderly people are at a physical disadvantage.

"If you're an elderly person, it's almost impossible to get across that street. There's almost never enough time to get across unless you can run," Neher said. "My neighbor, who is 80, wanted to cross Willow to give her neighbor some tomatoes, but she was too scared to go across so she didn't. Elderly people in the neighborhood should be able to walk across Willow."

Since 1987, 23 accidents have occurred at the corner of Willow Street and Camino Ramon, a small number compared to the 141 accidents that have occurred at Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street during that same time period.

And while the numbers may not be high, this isn't the first time complaints about Willow Street traffic have made their way into city offices. One month ago, nearly 20 residents appealed to the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association to request a city-sponsored study of large-truck traffic on Willow. Residents reported large big rigs, delivery trucks and 18-wheelers traveling down Willow Street and creating a hazard to pedestrians and bicyclists. District 6 City Councilmember Frank Fiscalini's office agreed to request the study, which is still in the works.

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