Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom says crosswalk improvements could move forward after a tragic crash earlier this month in which a 10-year-old boy was hit and killed while crossing the street near Charleston and East Fremont. Simeon Young was struck in front of his mother's apartment, and his family has been calling for a crosswalk to be installed in the area.
His grandfather, Trey Riley, pointed out that just a day earlier another child, an 11-year-old girl, had lost her life in Boulder the same way — hit by a car with nothing like a crosswalk to help her get across safely. Segerblom agreed that any death is terrible, and the death of a child even more so, saying the county has an obligation to build something better.
The Young family is grateful that local officials have recognized their concerns and are trying to help, but nothing changes the fact that their boy is gone. Riley said the family is holding on as best it can, though accepting that Simeon is no longer with them gets harder every day. Segerblom said his team came together immediately after the crash to look for solutions.
Residents Report Constant Jaywalking
Neighbors say hundreds of people cut across the road there every day because the nearest crosswalk in either direction is several blocks away. FOX5 watched multiple residents jaywalk in the very spot where Young was killed. Natasha Sanchez Ramos said she saw the little boy lying there on her way to work and was heartbroken. Another resident said children cross the street constantly to reach the convenience store.
One neighbor put it bluntly: kids play in the streets around the apartment complex and run across for candy all the time, and it makes no sense that there is nothing there to protect them. Young had told his mother he would be right back and was crossing toward the convenience store with his friends when he was hit.
Overlapping Jurisdictions Make Improvements Harder
Segerblom said the road is a state highway with the city on one side and the county on the other, which creates real complications. When three agencies are involved, everyone needs permission for everything, he explained, though the agencies work well together and improvements will move forward. The biggest problem, he said, is that there is no north-south street where a traffic signal could be installed.
After looking closely at the area, Segerblom said there may be little that can be done at that exact spot right away, but a crosswalk could likely be added up to 30th Street, ideally with a signal, and crossing facilities farther west could be upgraded. His team will also improve existing crosswalks and make sure the signals are working properly.
The Commissioner Described the Neighborhood's Challenges
Segerblom said the area faces several challenges. It is an older, struggling part of town with many apartments and a large homeless population, and the county has been working on a broader effort to clean up the area. Because it sits on the edge of a police jurisdiction, patrols are harder there as well; the county is working to restructure things so everything falls under a single regional command.
Segerblom said he wants to make sure resources are set aside for road maintenance and improvements in older neighborhoods. Residents who spot locations that need road safety fixes can contact his office directly or use Clark County's FixIt app. Simeon Young's family has started a catering business to help cover his funeral costs and is also raising funds online.
This article is general information, not legal advice about your specific situation.