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After Blind Students Struck By Car, Greeley Says Intersection Signal Will Be Improved

GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) - The city of Greeley said Thursday said it may install a new system to improve safety for blind pedestrians at an intersection where two college students were struck and seriously injured this week.

Zach Dreicer and Luz Madrigal, both students at the University of Northern Colorado, were hurt Monday when a broken signal at 11th Avenue and 22nd Street failed to warn them a car was approaching.

Madrigal's father said his daughter is recovering from surgery. She broke her leg and pelvis and suffered a head injury.

"I have no idea what this cray cray light is up to," Dreicer said, adding that signals designed to help him through campus intersections in Greeley are often more confusing than helpful.

The signal at the intersection had new speakers installed after the crash.

"I want them to learn from us and hopefully both of us will survive it," Dreicer said.

City Manager Roy Otto said public works crews performed their last regular inspection at the intersection on time in July.

"There's all kinds of equipment in a municipality and there is no way that you can know whether all of them are functioning appropriately," Otto said.

While Otto said he cannot find evidence Dreicer complained about the faulty signal prior to the crash, he said the city is now looking at installing a $5,000 system that would improve safety.

"One of the things that's critical toward helping us do our job is building relationships with the community and having clear communication when there are breakdowns," he said.

The system Dreicer prefers indicates audibly how many seconds a pedestrian has to cross before traffic restarts.

"That way it is very clear: Go or stop," Dreicer said.

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