Accident on Riverside Drive, 8.15.10 at 12:10am

[Jim O'Bryan]

Heard a loud bang, grabbed the camera and went outside.


Girl had clipped a telephone pole putting her car on its side.


Police and fire arrived quickly and got busy getting the driver out of the car.


Driver looks like she is doing alright sans shoes!





More photos online at: http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/
August photo blog.


.

[Grace O'Malley]

Such an exciting/dangerous neighborhood you live in, Jim!

Did the pole hit any of the houses?

[Jim O'Bryan]

8 hours later, all cleaned up.

Looks like a good Toyota hubcap to me.


Yes Grace, we do live in an exciting neighborhood. Great sunsets, best selection of wildlife in the city,
surround by hundreds of acres of parks, and dog parks, a river to fish in, and great neighbors. Dangerous, ahhh no. The pole never got closer that 7' to any house.

Speaking of, spoke with some neighbors over coffee at the "scene of the accident" this morning. Seems
they are moving to Bay Village, not exactly enthused over it. They could not find a lot the city would approve
for a new building. When I mentioned the new house on Clifton, the empty lots around town, she said maybe
now but not two years ago... Maybe, this is something the city should look into. Not just turning doubles into
singles by tear down and rebuilds. Marrying lots, etc.

There has been some talk in recent years about turning Riverside into a long park with bike path from
Hillard north. It was also talked about last night as we waited for the Baker Motors to remove the car.


Riverside Dr. Lakewood's Highway 1/Blue Ridge Parkway on a quieter night last week.

[Stan Austin]

Cool--- a long park with a bike path---use the house at Franklin and Riverside to rent out inline skates and sell slurpies!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Cool--- a long park with a bike path---use the house at Franklin and Riverside to rent out inline skates and sell slurpies!

Stan

I will let you or Schroeder set up your "third place" in my front yard.

Makes a great deal of sense. Very few homes have driveways onto Riverside. It would give
the city a chance to create some more cul-de-sacs which we know increase values on
homes. It would give an excellent chance to create another section of green in Lakewood
with a tremendous view into the thousands of years of history laid bare in the cliffs of the
Emerald Canyon. And make a central focus point into what the neighborhood
calls the Emerald Canyon Historic District.


A view into thousands of years of history and beauty. The Emerald Canyon, viewed from
Riverside Dr. Lakewood's Highway 1/Blue Ridge Parkway.

Besides, the state does not have the money to redo the entire street, and their promise of
80 years life fell short by about 75 years.

Move along nothing to see here...


.

[Valerie Molinski]

Wow, a flying beige camry. You don't see those in the wild too often. I wouldn't refer to shearing off a telephone poll as 'clipped,' however, Jim. You are being way too kind. She was drunk, I assume?

Im not getting the snark for the lack of shoes though! I take off my shoes to drive all the time. But I drive a manual, and some of my heels are not conducive to using a clutch. Also, my shoes kept getting rubbed in the same spots on the back from driving, so I do it to keep my shoes looking nice.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Wow, a flying beige camry. You don't see those in the wild too often. I wouldn't refer to shearing off a telephone poll as 'clipped,' however, Jim. You are being way too kind. She was drunk, I assume?

Im not getting the snark for the lack of shoes though! I take off my shoes to drive all the time. But I drive a manual, and some of my heels are not conducive to using a clutch. Also, my shoes kept getting rubbed in the same spots on the back from driving, so I do it to keep my shoes looking nice.

Valerie

I believe it is against the law to drive barefoot. Her shoes were inside the car. She was actually in the car standing up,
I was not aware until I asked my neighbor where the driver was, and he said inside. At that point the police arrived.

There were no signs of being drunk. She seemed completely lucid, and the police never mentioned alcohol.

Riverside Drive is like a freeway at night, and the later it goes the faster they go. The curve is actually pretty
deceptive and tightens by my house heading north or relaxes heading south. It seems like you could go
pretty quick, then suddenly it is a turn with poles right at the edge of the road, with a very low curve.

I used the term clipped, because she only caught a little bit of the right from corner, instead of head on. That
car can be back on the road in 7 days or less, and speaks volume over the body strength of a Toyota.

We average about two of these a year, maybe that is one reason we do not have block parties.

.

[Colleen Wing]

I,too, have felt like vearing off the road to run over one of those Fitz! signs but never had the guts... (I am glad she is okay)

[Stan Austin]

Colleen---- This has nothing to do with politics.

This was a trial run for a Watkins Glen racing course.

A Danica Patrick stand in.

So far, so good. I saw a barge of a Caddy yesterday that I'd love to see sashay down Riverside!

Stan