Students Who Are Blind Hit By Car At Intersection With Faulty Audible Signal
GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) - One of two students struck by a vehicle crossing a University of Northern Colorado campus intersection this week says he warned the city of Greeley about the problem before the crash that seriously injured his friend.
Sophomore Zach Dreicer was helping his friend Luz Madrigal across 11th Avenue and 22nd Street in Greeley on Monday night at approximately 9:30 p.m. when the two unknowingly stepped out in front of a truck. The driver had a green light and says he did not see the two until it was too late.
Madrigal, 21, is currently in critical conditional in the intensive care unit at North Colorado Medical Center. Dreicer suffered minor injuries.
Dreicer told CBS4's Lauren DiSpirito he has been notifying the city that the audible signal at the intersection wasn't working but hadn't received a response.
Dreicer said since the signal wasn't working, they listened for traffic but didn't hear any, so they attempted to cross the street and were hit by the truck.
A city representative told CBS4 said they thought the signal, which was last inspected in July, was working. But they now know that it wasn't working at the time of the accident.
"It's very upsetting for us, we take a lot of pride and responsibility in making sure our equipment is working properly," said City of Greeley Public Works Director Joel Hemesath.
Dreicer said he's been able to visit Madrigal in the hospital but she hasn't been able to talk.
"She's really friendly and really outgoing, despite a hard past and even now a hard present situation," Dreicer said.
The city spokesman says he was never made aware of Dreicer's complaints.
No charges will be filed against the truck driver.
