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The following letter was addressed to the mayor and City Council: 

There was another accident tonight, Jan. 15, at Benvenue and Ashby avenues at approximately 5:30 p.m. One car was crossing Ashby, going south on Benvenue, when it collided with another car that was going east up Ashby in the parking lane. 

The resulting accident had such force that one of the cars wound up on the southeast corner of the sidewalk and crashed into the street light. Fortunately, no one was standing on the corner at that moment. There was considerable damage to both cars which were towed away. 

The lady who wound up on the sidewalk stayed in her smoking car until the paramedics arrived. The paramedics also looked over the toddler son of the other driver. Everyone seemed OK. 

This is the second accident this year at Benvenue and Ashby that I know of. There were 18 last year. There now have been four accidents here in less than one month (12/19/01, 12/20/01, 1/6/02, 1/15/02). Two of the four were exactly alike. One car is southbound on Benvenue, crossing Ashby when it gets hit by an eastbound car on Ashby driving up the parking lane between 4 and 6 p.m. 

Our fifth Traffic Task Force meeting was held yesterday at the Claremont Library. 

Traffic engineer Reh-Lin says the temporary traffic calming devices have been ordered. They will now be put in sometime in the beginning of March 2002. Reh-Lin also said that he now has to go to the City Council to get its approval to remove the 4-6 p.m. Tow-Away parking signs on the eastbound side of Ashby between Hillegass and College. This would then allow cars to park in the metered spots and stop cars from zooming up the parking lane between 4-6 pm, like they can now. 

Jed will be sending out an email highlighting this fifth Task Force meeting. 

One lady who was at the corner after the accident was upset with drivers on Ashby. She said she was trying to cross Ashby at Benvenue with her child in a stroller, and the cars were ignoring her in the cross walk. 

The next Traffic Task Force meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m., at the Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave. 

Paul Tuleja 

Berkeley