Cathedral City hit-and-runs leave some demanding more city lights

Three hit and runs on Cathedral City streets in the span of a week have some business owners near the scenes of the crashes wondering if street lighting is a contributing factor.

“I feel like if they lit it up better it would be easier to see people,” said Sean Wood, co-owner of TG Tattoo Gallery in Cathedral City, which is located near where 51-year-old Teodoro Torres was struck by at least two cars, one an ambulance, last Wednesday. Torres later died.

“There’s not too much light and it’s too dark. People pass through and nobody sees them,” said Frank Franso, owner of Tobacco Plus Smoke Shop near the same site.

“There isn’t enough lights around these streets, that’s why we can’t see the people walking when we are driving,” said Ruth Verdusco, who owns a business near the scene of Tuesday night’s hit and run on Date Palm near the Cathedral City Library.

Along Ramon Road, a row of lights ends near Avenida La Paloma, until you hit Landau Boulevard.

In this stretch of darkness is where Torres was struck. Those who work here say there should be a light or a crosswalk between the two intersections.

“It’s too far, far away each other you need one here. Need light here,” Franso said.

“I don’t think it’s anywhere near enough. I think that’s the general consensus,” Wood said.

Others disagree, and say it’s the responsibility of pedestrians to watch where they’re going, especially when it’s dark.

“It’s pretty well-lit here, you have all these signs,” said Tyler Crounse, a Cathedral City resident. “I think people should be more aware of their surroundings before they cross the street.”

This isn’t the first time Cathedral City has been in the spotlight on this issue. On Halloween night in 2007, a 13-year-old girl was struck and killed by a car on Vista Chino, leaving some demanding more cross walks.

The city says safety is its number one priority, but it’s waiting to make any decisions.

“The city realizes that we’ve had an unusual number of incidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians,” said city spokesman Chris Parman. “We’re going to take a look at all the results of the investigations and make some determinations on what the next steps if any might be.”