Dear Editor,
I was appalled to read that another accident involving a pedestrian occurred on Mill Street. According to the article published in Wednesday's Daily Egyptian, there have been three accidents already this year on Mill, and one of them fatal. Doesn't that seem a little high considering we are only a month and a half into the new year?
Mill Street is a dangerous road to cross. For years I have heard of people having near misses or accidents on that street. One of my own friends was hit by an SUV last semester while riding his bike legally on Mill. Fortunately, he was lucky enough to be unharmed. Crossing intersections and driving on Mill is impossible during the day and dangerous during the night. Overall, where Mill parallels Lincoln on campus, both streets are equally unnerving to walk, pedal or drive on.
The intersection on Mill and Rawlings is especially dangerous because it is in a seemingly arbitrary spot. Many drivers are unaware of its presence until they are on top of it, and those who do know it's there do not yield.
Honestly, how many more people need to die or sustain injury before anyone with power realizes that the problem may be the layout of the street itself? I believe that the university and the city need to work together to make the street that bridges the two communities safer for anyone who needs to use it.
Elizabeth C. Hughes student at John A. Logan College from Carbondale
