Victorville Makes Improvements to Deadly Intersection

VICTORVILLE – Two fatal collisions killing four people in the matter of only weeks outraged Victorville residents and caused a demand for a traffic signal on Amethyst Road and Mojave Drive. The streets crossing Mojave Drive are for the most part stopped by only a stop sign and those turning left must cross the busy and fast-moving intersection of vehicles traveling the 60 miles per hour speed limit.

On Saturday, February 4, 2017, an accused drunk driver drove northbound on Amethyst Road slamming into a vehicle driving westbound on Mojave Drive. The collision killed an Adelanto man and his unborn daughter. The crash also injured the man’s wife and mother-in-law. Just two weeks later, on Saturday, February 18, 2017, an Adelanto family was driving home heading northbound on Amethyst Road and attempted to make a left turn onto westbound Mojave Drive. An eastbound traveling vehicle going the posted speed limit hit the vehicle leaving a 10-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy dead and leaving four others injured.

The City of Victorville’s spokeswoman Jones said that city official are saddened by both of the fatal traffic collisions. “Our hearts go out to the families who continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones,” said Jones.  On Monday, February 27, 2017, the City of Victorville began working on various changes to improve safety, and on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, some of these changes were completed dividing the lane (striping) between those turning right and those turning left from northbound Amethyst Road. In addition to this change, an oversized stop sign with flashing beacons added to the center of this split and a blinking light was added to the stop sign on the east side of the street.

“These efforts were undertaken to provide motorists with an additional advance warning of this intersection while we await the results of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) reports regarding these accidents,” said  Sue Jones.  Jones said that these reports along with a traffic signal warrant study will help the city determine if further enhancements or improvements will be made.

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