Family Claims City Partly at Fault for Daughter's Death

Jeff and Ling Murray, whose Dec. 1 by a Sonoma State student who has while driving — have filed two claims with the city clerk's office alleging the city of Rohnert Park is at least partially responsible for the accident.

The claims, which were filed with the city May 17, detail charges of wrongful death of Calli Murray and severe, permanent personal injury to Ling. Each charge is for $25,000 or more.

Details on the accusations weren't immediately available Monday, but stay tuned to Rohnert Park Patch Tuesday; we'll be publishing the claims in full.

The crosswalk at the intersection of Medical Center Drive and Snyder Lane, where both Calli and Ling were struck, has been a flash point for a that's ebbed and flowed in Rohnert Park over the last six months. Some say the driver, Kaitlyn Dunaway, is at fault for not paying attention to the road, while that the crosswalk is ill-lit and the signage alerting drivers of the pedestrian right-of-way is too far away.

In reality, however, it's a mix of both factors, say some Rohnert Park residents. Some hope the tragedy will thrust the issue of using a into the greater public's consciousness — to get what's now a minor traffic infraction classified as a type of driving under the influence.

"Don't text and drive," Ling has said repeatedly to media, when asked about what message she wants people to take home about tragedy.

Meanwhile, parents and community activists have spearheaded efforts to make the crosswalk safer.

Katie Weber, a Rohnert Park mother of three, spent months after the accident raising money from area businesses to pay for cones at either end of the crosswalk, and throughout the school year she volunteered her time to cross hundreds of students a day through the intersection — where two of the most heavily-attended schools ( and ) converge.

"My concern has not necessarily been the crosswalk, but rather the people," said Christal Barquero, a motorist who witnessed the accident. "Sure the crosswalks need to be revamped ... but people need to be safe and pay attention when they are driving; they need to safe when they're riding bikes and walking."

Barquero and Warner Hepsley, have to pay attention to that crosswalk on Snyder Lane. In response, City Manager Gabe Gonzalez commissioned the Santa Rosa-based traffic engineering firm W-Trans (for nearly $16,000) to do a on unsafe streets in Rohnert Park, including Snyder Lane.

The City Council is expected to hear the findings from the firm at Tuesday's council meeting.

The report, released Thursday, stated some general findings, that:

• "Pedestrian facilities are generally adequate, with few gaps in the system."
• "Statistically, collisions involving pedestrians are comparatively low, indicating that pedestrians are experiencing generally safe conditions in the city."
• "Some minor signal timing changes are suggested."
• "Pedestrian behavior is generally acceptable with some education recommended."
• "Some bicyclists were traveling the wrong way in marked on-street bike lanes."

W-Trans is recommending three improvements to the intersection where Calli was killed. They are:

• "Change to continental crosswalk markings across Snyder Lane, to convert the standard crosswalk signing and to assign a crossing guard after school lets out."
• "Install a continental crosswalk and associated signing to cross Medical Center Drive."
• "Install a streetlight for the Medical Center Drive crossing and expand the landing area on the northeast corner."

Darrin Jenkins, the city's development services director, reported in a staff report that many of these changes can be made when Snyder Lane is widened to four lanes, which is called for in the city's General Plan.

"Many of the long-term recommendations can be implemented with the widening of Snyder Lane," Jenkins wrote. "To do the long-term improvements at this time would result in inefficient use of funds, as the improvements would be removed and constructed along the new alignment at the time of the widening."

The widening is expected to begin in the next two to three years, according to the report, but is subject to "economic factors."

W-Trans also studied other intersections and streets in Rohnert Park, and according to the report, there are $510,000 worth of improvements that need to be made on upgrading crosswalks throughout the city, making Snyder Lane safer and fixing signal timing on some stoplights. Stay tuned to Rohnert Park Patch following tomorrow night's meeting for a follow-up.

Editor's note: The Murrays declined to comment on the pending lawsuit yet, saying that they are awaiting what actions are taken at tomorrow's City Council meeting.