Murray Calls on Drivers to Slow Down at Sunrise Park Crosswalk

Sonoma County was riveted by the tragic killing of 2-year-old Calli Murray, was was struck with her mother, Ling, when the two were crossing the intersection of Medical Center Drive and Snyder Lane, leaving Sunrise Park last December.

A movement is growing nationally about educating people about the dangers of cell phone use while driving, known officially as "distracted driving." Local police said last week that they regularly see people on their phones while driving, and that they're .

I sat in my office on a sleepy, rainy Sunday recently, clicking through page after page of state and national media coverage of the Murray accident that happened in this quiet suburb, and I realized that it's very likely that the change in awareness, and — at least in part — will start here.

It's almost been a year since Calli's death. I launched Rohnert Park Patch days after the accident, so in many ways, I've been personally affected by the tragic events of that day, the Murray family and the community that's . While I can't begin to comprehend what the family has gone through, the accident made me realize how important it is to cover public safety on the city's streets. Not just to tell people about what's going on, but to ask what they want to see fixed or what intersections or roadways they think are dangerous.

So, to continue my I've been doing lately, I hung out at Sunrise Park a few days this week with my dog, I just stopped a while on our normal walk. Here's what I noticed:

The intersection is still terrifying. I'm sorry, it is — especially between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. I couldn't even begin to count how many cars traveled down Snyder, I stopped counting at 250, and I wasn't even there that long. Waves of kids on bike, skateboard and foot crossed the crosswalk, leaving the middle school and Rancho mostly.

The crosswalk is bright and newly-painted, and there are more of them (the city striped in and repainted dozens after ).

But it's still madness. I don't know what the answer is, and the city after widening Snyder Lane in the next couple years. That's expensive, and it takes time.

Cars travel at speeds from about 20 to 50 mph regularly; some are waiting in medians to turn in to S Park, some turning out from the Redwood Country Kids Club and Learning to Learn Preschool nearby, some are just ready to get home already. I get it. I'm not perfect — I've sat at a red light and checked my phone, and I've probably sped down Snyder.

Back to the crosswalk. Kids are riding in the street (which is legal), some are not watching before they enter the crosswalk, drivers sometimes whiz by without stopping. I will say, that compared to six months ago, it seems a little safer, though. I did notice more drivers that seemed more aware. That's just anecdotal.

Oh, and in about 25 minutes, I counted six people talking on thier phones. I didn't even look for people texting; it's hard to count because you can't see them and the cars go by quick.

We'll be continuing to monitor this story, and listening to you, readers, as these stories make headlines. What do you have to say about the city's streets? Has the Murray accident impacted your life or made you change your habits? I know they've changed mine.