Grandma urges Columbus to 'please put the light back' following crash that injured kids
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — A grandmother in South Columbus took the streets Wednesday morning to raise awareness about what she and her fellow neighbors believe is a dangerous intersection.
Wilma Roberts held two signs stating "please put the light back" at East Whittier Street and South Champion Avenue near the spot where a two-vehicle crash sent a car into a group of Columbus City School students yesterday.
"I don't want any more accidents to happen" Roberts said. "It's ridiculous. It happens all the time. Someone is going get killed."
A few additional students who were waiting for a school bus suffered minor injuries, Columbus police said in a Facebook post.
Roberts, who lives nearby, and other neighbors said the traffic situation has gotten worse after the city removed a traffic light at the intersection in 2014.
"When the light was there we didn't have many accidents. There were some, but not as many," Roberts said. "It's never just a fender bender."
Multiple drivers gave Roberts and her signs honks of approval as she stood outside for more than an hour.
"It's about time someone stood up and said something," driver Terrone Sunderland said. "There are kids right here all the time."
The city removed the traffic signal following a traffic study that lasted at least six months, Debbie Briner with Department of Public Service said.
Parking spots closest to the intersection were also removed and reflectors were added for safety, Briner said.
ABC 6/FOX 28 requested data about the number of crashes in area, but that information hasn't been provided yet.
A representative with the city's 311 service center said seven complaints have been made about the intersection in the last five years.
After a complaint in February of 2019, the city decided no further changes were necessary at the intersection. according to 311 complaints.
The crash remained under investigation.