Family Wants Safety Modifications Added To Intersection Where 8th Grader Was Killed
The family of Kaylah Lentine, 14, who was hit by a pickup truck and killed crossing the intersection of Southwest Highway and Cicero Avenue in May, are petitioning the village for safety modifications that may have saved Kaylah's life.
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There was a lot that Krista Wilkinson didn’t know about her 14-year-old daughter, Kaylah Lentine, until after she died.
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Wilkinson didn’t know that Kaylah wrote poetry until her friend Marty showed her where Kaylah had hidden the poems in her bedroom.
She didn’t know that Kaylah had tried to volunteer for an organization that helped abused children, only to be told she was too young.
And Wilkinson didn’t know that Kaylah had set up profiles on a variety of literary websites.
“I had no idea that she wrote poetry,” Wilkinson said. “There were 25 to 30 poems in her room, Marty said five or six were about him.”
“She had so many interests,” Wilkinson’s fiancé, Bob Nelson, said. “She played piano, made movies, I thought, ‘where did you find the time to write poetry?’”
"Probably in school when she was supposed to be doing homework," Wilkinson laughed.
Kaylah has missed the school bus and was on her way to Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, where she was to have received a leadership award at the eighth-grade awards assembly. She died of her injuries the next day.
According to witnesses who have talked to Wilkinson and Oak Lawn Police, Kaylah was cautiously crossing the intersection on the east side of Cicero Avenue when she was struck by the pickup truck driving eastbound on Southwest Highway.
Print the pdf of the traffic request form and sign the petition.
The driver of the truck, a 26-year-old man from Chicago Ridge, has not been charged. Wilkinson said Oak Lawn police have told them two subpoenas for the driver’s cell phone records for the morning of May 24 have gone unanswered.
Wilkinson and other family members are convinced that had there been a pedestrian signal and other safety enhancements at the corner, Kaylah might be alive today.
“The intersection is dangerous even for adults to cross,” Kaylah’s mom said. “The crosswalks are almost invisible.”
So that her daughter’s death isn’t in vain, Wilkinson and family members are asking the village to lobby the Illinois Department of Transportation for modifications that will make the intersection safer and more accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Kaylah's family and friends plan to go before the Oak Lawn Traffic Review Committee on Aug. 2.
“If this had happened to one of Kaylah’s friends, she would be organizing the petition drive,” said her grandfather, Don Wilkinson, of Oak Forest. “This is a terrible loss for us.”
Active Transportation Alliance (ActiveTrans), a transportation advocacy group that works with municipalities in developing more bikeable and walkable communities, has put together a list of recommendations for the intersection.
“Every street should be accessible to pedestrians,” Leslie Phemister said, suburban outreach manager for ActiveTrans. "People need to be able to walk and bike to places. Not everyone owns a car. Unless they feel safe, people won’t walk or bike.”
Phemister visited the intersection of Southwest Highway and Cicero Avenue last week, parking at Boston Market on the northeast corner of the intersection.
“Southwest Highway is eight lanes across,” Phemister said. “I tried to cross and it took me three lights. Cars were going fast around the corner. The wider lanes enable cars to take corners at high speeds. The faster you drive, the less you see on the peripheral.”
An Oak Lawn resident and family friend is submitting ActiveTrans’ recommendations to the village traffic committee on behalf of Kaylah’s family, who are Hometown residents.
Recommended improvements to the intersection include:
- 8 new zebra style crosswalks;
- 8 pedestrian signals with countdown timers;
- 2 new pedestrian islands;
- 12 truncated domes and
- 12 ADA-compliant curb ramps.
The enhancements will help slow down traffic through the intersection and become less of a barrier to residents.
“Nothing on (Southwest Highway and Cicero Avenue) says that this is a place where pedestrians can be other than a zebra crosswalk,” Phemister said.
Phemister said there is currently only one zebra crosswalk at the intersection, distinguished by diagonal lines on the street. Such crosswalks are more visible to drivers, as opposed to the double straight lines, and help curb aggressive driving.
The corner is also lacking ADA-required truncated domes; a detectable tile that warns visually impaired persons of the boundary between the sidewalk and street, and ADA-compliant pedestrian islands.
The improvements amount to about $50,000. IDOT requires municipalities to pay 20-percent of traffic improvements.
Oak Lawn Trustee Alex Olejniczak supports the family’s request to add the safety modifications to the intersection and is introducing ActiveTrans’ recommendations at the village board meeting on Tuesday. Wilkinson also plans to make a brief statement.
“Speed is not a safe environment for walkers and bikers,” Phemister said. “ActiveTrans believes that every road should be built for users of every ability, whether it’s a senior or child trying to cross the street, a person in a wheelchair, or a driver in semi-truck.”
Krista Wilkinson and family are asking residents in Oak Lawn and Hometown to support “Kaylah’s Cause,” by printing the pdf of the traffic request form, and circulating and signing the petitions. Only one person per household may sign the petition. Mail the petitions to Kaylah’s Cause. c/o 4570 W. 88th Street, Hometown, IL, 60456. The petitions need to be submitted to the village by July 25.
IF YOU CANNOT GET THE PDF TO PRINT, PLEASE EMAIL LORRAINE AT LORRAINE.SWANSON@PATCH.COM.
Should Oak Lawn conduct a comprehensive traffic review to enhance pedestrian safety? Tell us in the comments.
In This article
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Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School
5345 W 99th St, Oak Lawn, IL -
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Village of Oak Lawn Police Department
9446 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn, IL -
Boston Market
9267 S Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, IL
Kevin Scanlon
9:43 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
It truly saddens me to know that such a small amount of money could have saved Kaylahs life. Oak Lawn is not small town by no means. I think they can afford it! You can not put a price on any persons life. We miss here everyday!
ME
10:23 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
I agree that something needs to be done at SWHWY and CICERO. No one can cross the street there going any which way. It's a hazard for walkers and bikers. Do it for every person who needs to cross there so they don't suffer as this poor child did. Also, get those phone records from that guy. If he was texting, hang him! Texting should be outlawed!
B. Brennan
12:46 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
My daugther and I will be there to show our support for the Lentine/Wilkerson/Nelson families.
Lorraine Swanson
1:19 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
If you cannot get the traffic request form to print, please email me at lorraine.swanson@patch.com and I will send you the pdf.
Pat F
6:14 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
What this comes down to is it was a terrible tragedy that will haunt both the parents and the driver for the rest of their lives..Making safety modifications is probably the best way to prevent this in the future. I feel and pray not only for the girl and her family but also for the driver.. I drove a truck for almost 40 years and saw many, many fatal accidents.They are called accidents for the fact that 99% of them are..As far as this article, look back and the same source said there was no way to prevent what happened..This was from witnesses at the intersection the day of the incident..You can't judge anything by what comes long after the original records..Supporting this group to get safety modifications is the best thing you can do to help this situation. This could possibly stop it from happening in the future. Just remember that both parties involved have to live this nightmare over and over the rest of their lives.. My prayers and thoughts go to everyone involved..
Terri Mazur
6:56 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
I totally agree with Pat F. I was there making a left hand turn at the time and the light was green for the driver at the time of the accident. My heart goes out for both families. Improving the intersection signals will be extremely beneficial.
Renee Wilkinson
1:21 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Don Wilkinson, Kaylah was my granddaughter and I know for a fact, that over the years others have been killed at this intersection ( Bill Musinski ) as well as others injured at this crossing. She was the president of SADD, or Students Against Destructive Decisions (formerly founded as part of Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and worked closely with other students as a leader in recruiting members from Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School into this program. Kaylah also participated in D.A.R.E. & EDGE (against Gangs) at the school. Her loss is something that we will never get over as We loved her greatly as she loved us. Please help us in our efforts to make this a safer inersection for everyone, in the future. We can't go back & change the past but can try to change the future. This is the only light, walking down Cicero Avenue south, from 79th St to 115th Street that DOES NOT have a crossing light for Pedestrians!?? Ask Why and how you can help! thank you for your support
Nicki Moad
10:14 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Our family used to live in Hometown over 5 years ago and I realize that Southwest Hwy is a major street but to live on Southwest Hwy. Whenever we walked, we would go down to the traffic light towards Oak Lawn but even then, didn't feel safe crossing over Southwest Hwy. The intersection going the other direction towards Chicago is even worse. It was bad then and bad now. It's time to make a change. I pray that Kaylah's death is not in vain and that people can learn from what happened and change it NOW! Don't wait for another accident to happen!
Kimberlee Parisi
10:48 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Do you have to be residents of Oak Lawn in order to sign the petition?
Lorraine Swanson
3:18 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Oak Lawn and Hometown residents are welcome to sign the petition. I've noticed that Hometown is having its community fest on July 14 at Patterson Park. That would be a great venue to circulate the petition.
Renee Wilkinson
12:24 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Yes for the Oak Lawn petition part of it, you would need to be a resident. This also will involve the State of Illinois (Through IDOT or Illinois Department of Transportation) as they will have to also approve and fund the balance of what Oak Lawn pays which I think is 20% of the $50,000.00 estimated cost, to have the intersection put together safely for all pedestrians. To the best of my knowledge, that's what we were told by Illlinois State Representative Kelly Burke and Oak Lawn District #2 Trustee Alex Oleiniczak. Don Wilkinson
scouter
2:30 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Kids this age don't always think about safety... So, let's help now and get that intersection in better shape and try to make sure that no one else has to face what her family and the driver has to face. We don't want any more deaths or accidents...
Lorraine Swanson
3:19 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
By all witness accounts Kaylah was using caution when crossing the intersection.
Mike
2:57 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
How about trying to slow down traffic all down SW Highway thru the residential areas? The "limit" is 30 but the majority go 40+. Cops are rarely clocking on SW Highway.
IPFWGK1
3:53 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Really? Ever get paid a visit from the Red unmarked car (Rybcka I believe his name was who patrolled with that car) or now the blue & black unmarked car?
You are correct..SWHY average speed is around 40mph. But it's patrolled.
Jerry
4:13 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Has anyone considered the idea of a pedestrian bridge across Cicero Avenue?
Renee Wilkinson
1:08 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The most dangerous area is crossing Southwest Highway on the west side of Cicero as it's eight lanes across and the ONLY intersection, on Cicero between 79th St. all the way to 115th Street, that does not have a pedestrian crossing light! Some of the others are far less dangerous, like 91st street & it has pedestrian crossing lights??? A double bridge crossing both streets is an excellent Idea! Especially on the west side of Cicero, going north to south over Southwest Highway and over Cicero going East to West (By Boston Chicken). Until that time, IDOT should eliminate the right hand turn lane on both sides of Cicero onto SW HWY and the right turn light. They need to put up pedestrian crossing lights ASAP! The intersection should also be set up like 95th & Cicero. NO TURN signs, double posted, giving pedestrians a fair chance to cross the street! Don
Lorraine Swanson
5:58 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Are you referring to a Southtown Star article? Can you send me the link please.
Lorraine Swanson
6:01 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I want to know why you think my article is biased? Bottom line, that's a dangerous intersection that can be made a lot safer through some simple improvements.
Lorraine Swanson
6:27 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I read my story, Nick, and no where does it mention that the pedestrian in the breaking news alert was running through traffic, unless you're referring to the comments. The accident is still under police investigation. I look forward to reading the findings, which I hope that I would have the opportunity to share with readers.
ann
6:32 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I was there and Kaylah was not "dodging cars" just to set the record straight. Yes a tragic accident but in no way was her fault.
Lorraine Swanson
6:54 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Nick, I appreciate what you're saying. However, I still have to follow professional standards when reporting stories. I know that the comments on the initial breaking news story were thoughtful and included many witnesses that saw what happened, but I still have to go through official sources, in this case, the Oak Lawn Police Department. And I agree with the others: no one is disparaging the driver. I personally have great empathy for him.
Lorraine Swanson
7:01 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I'm heading over to the village board meeting. Until I get back, I'm going to put this story on comment moderation, which means you won't see your comments posted right away. You may come back later this evening to read your comments.
Nikki G
7:02 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Why does everyone have to BLAME someone in an ACCIDENT. I mean, look at the very definition of ACCIDENT. Unfortunate things happen; but trying to point fingers doesn't get the intersection fixed. I grew up in the area...worked in the area...and I would NEVER even THINK about trying to cross that intersection. It's clearly not a safe intersection...not even to DRIVE through. People in that area are unnecessarily reckless drivers. Going either direction on either street...everyone is always in a hurry to get somewhere.
To be honest, I don't even think a working pedestrian system would be beneficial at all -- I agree with a previous comment; pedestrian bridge (or underground walkway)...has there been an estimate for how much that would cost?
The last thing that is interesting in this article is that there are subpoenas for cell records...but no charges have been filed? I'm pretty sure that's why those requests went unanswered...you can't just ask for people's records of anything just for the hell of it.
ann
11:24 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Krista was so brave and did an awesome job at the meeting! My prayers are with the family during this difficult time. I have hope that there will be change in Kaylah's name. That's what she would have wanted.
AmyFrombach
11:40 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I have walked across that same intersection and I am all for the changes myself . I live in hometown too and I will do everything in my power to get as many people to sign and get the changes that need to be done!!!!!
Lorraine Swanson
11:45 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Please email me if you need the petition, Amy, lorraine.swanson@patch.com.
AmyFrombach
11:51 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
No thank you I was able to print it up myself and will everything to help her family out!!!!!
michelle west
3:10 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Someone bring me a pile of petions on sat at hometown days I will make sure everybody signs one!!! Bring them to the concession stand.. tell whoever is in there. They are for michelle west!
STM
5:57 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
I agree with Jerry. A pedestrian bridge and a connecting elevator for the handicap people would be a great idea. They have such bridges with elevators all over the world in major cities, and the accident rate is non existent. Better spend our tax money on safety of our citizens than have the politicians steal it for their benefit.