To update this post:
I was deeply saddened to learn that the accident victim was Mrs. Barbara Kimbrough, as it had been earlier suspected. She was a long-time bookshop customer and lunch time guest, who – in the early stages of the book store’s existence – stopped by to have me locate books, perhaps – I suspect – to simply give the business a little boost. Sometimes she’d drop off a book of her own for me to read, when she believed I’d find it interesting. I always did. I was pleased to do bookbinding work for Mrs. Kimbrough on occasion, and to serve her at lunchtime. It never bothered me when she called me ‘Kid,’ even though it used to when I was one. She will be missed.
It’s unsettling to see flashing lights ahead, the strobes of emergency responders and police, when it is clear they are coming from the front of the business. And your son is inside. Beyond the unrelenting rain, that was Thursday’s greeting.
When I got to the intersection, there were even more vehicles than I first realized and I scanned the front of the bookstore as I pulled into the turn lane. I wanted to see what was going on – but at the same time, I didn’t want to see traces of smoke creeping out of the doorway or any of the countless other scenarios I am capable of imagining.
The light turned green and I started to turn onto Commercial. The police cordon was waving me away. Hadn’t seen them gathered there. I was too busy trying to see what the cars in front of the shop were doing.
It was hours later that I learned a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle. A police representative came by early in the lunch hour to show a cell phone photograph of the victim, and could I identify her?
What a feeling of helplessness. The image had obviously been snapped as the woman was being readied for the ambulance. Bandages. Tubing. Medical tape. She could have been any of several women I see every morning passing in front of the shop. There are folks that I have seen passing by for years now, trotting the length of the Rose District and back to the The Hub, the popular gym between here and Kenosha.
I could point out various folks that have Main Street as part of their morning or afternoon routine. They are men and women I may never formally meet, but like the city workers who tend to the district landscaping, we exchange pleasantries or simply nod and smile in passing.
Those of you who have patiently followed my occasional ramblings will remember the somewhat-regular ranting of mine about cars on Main – specifically their drivers. I’ve watched mothers with toddlers trying to gauge a safe time to cross the street, even when they have the benefit of the light. I’ve seen accidents now, and many more near misses between cars trying to back out onto that stretch of NASCAR pavement.
Rest easy. I’m in restraint today. No soapbox ranting.
If you have prayers to spare, send a few out for the woman who was simply walking through our Rose District and met with calamity.
What happened this morning could have been the result of the rain and low visibility, or any number of random circumstances brought together by ill timing. Errors in judgment are made by pedestrians and drivers alike. But motorized vehicles certainly have the survival advantage in the crossing of paths.
Someday, it may occur to people that part of the reason the Rose District exists is to draw people to the area. And hopefully get out of the car and walk around a bit.
But when you walk from our shops in the Rose District, please remember to use caution entering the street or crosswalks. Don’t expect vehicles to stop when the crosswalk lights are flashing. Realize that drivers intent on turning right on the red light routinely continue driving well into the crosswalk and often turn without stopping at all. Some drivers remember Main as a four lane parkway from 71st to 91st, speed limit 45 – heck, push it to 50.
Hearing the phrase “pedestrian friendly” – no matter how often – does not yet make it the truth.