Stop signs installed where sixth-grader was fatally struck by car in San Carlos

by Kristina Davis

City crews on Thursday installed stop signs along a busy street in San Diego’s San Carlos neighborhood where a sixth-grader on his way to school was fatally struck by a car 10 days earlier.

The signs on Jackson Drive at Lake Badin Avenue make the intersection a four-way stop, and safer for people to cross the four-lane street. The San Carlos Recreation Center, Springall Academy and Pershing Middle School are all nearby.

The city also plans this fiscal year to reduce the number of lanes on Jackson from four to two between Lake Shore Drive and Lake Murray Boulevard, a city spokesperson said earlier this month. The speed limit will also be reduced to 35 mph on Jackson between Cowles Mountain and Lake Murray boulevards.

Andrew Olsen was crossing Jackson on his way to Pershing with two siblings on Oct. 20 when they were struck by a vehicle. Andrew died, and his sisters were injured.

San Diego Department of Transportation workers Israel Galvan, left, and Gonzalo Malacara use a flame to adhere letters to the pavement at Jackson Drive and Lake Badin Avenue Thursday morning. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The driver stopped after the crash and cooperated with police. The crash remains under investigation.

Shannon Smith, who lives nearby and had crossed Jackson countless times with his dog, asked the city for traffic safety measures at the intersection for more than a year, with no results. City officials said that, after evaluating the area, it did not meet the council policy criteria for changes at the time.

“Our entire community is heartbroken by last week’s tragedy,” City Councilmember Raul Campillo said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the Mayor and City staff for responding to my call for urgent safety improvements at this location, resulting in the new all-way stop installed today.”