The Turlock Police Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating a vehicle versus skateboarder collision that occurred around 8:30 a.m. this morning on East Avenue, between Race Street and Rose Street.
Turlock Police Spokesperson Mayra Lewis says an Acura coupe was traveling eastbound on East Avenue, when the driver struck a 19-year-old male riding a skateboard. The unidentified male has been air-lifted to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Alcohol and drugs are not believed to have played a part in the accident.
Lewis says more information will be made available throughout the day.
Witnesses are encouraged to contact TPD Ofc. Joe Dusel at (209) 664-7382.
Update: Turlock Police reported at 12:20 p.m. that East Avenue was opened back up to through traffic.
You said, Alcohol and drugs are not believed to have played a part in the accident. What about their cell phone? How can you not see someone in the road? We will be praying for this kid and his family.
East Avenue has long been extremely dangerous for pedestrians. This accident occurred during a part of the day where east bound traffic is blinded by the sun. This is NOT the first time a pedestrian/cyclist/skateboarder has been injured. Every person who tries to drive or walk across East Avenue knows they are risking their lives to do so. I see it several times a day and the drivers do not slow down or stop, but try to beat the pedestrian so they don’t have to slow down. It does not matter how cautious the pedestrian is…
The last time I contacted the city about this issue, I was told that they would not put in stop signs as it would cause too many accidents. It’s nice to see their priorities are in the right place. As a resident of this street, I am sick and tired of having drivers play chicken with me, crash into the yards of myself and my neighbors, or into parked vehicles. One of the officers directing traffic for this accident agreed with me that this street is extremely dangerous.
3 out of 5 drivers on this street have been seen texting, on their cell phones or otherwise distracted while driving at full speed. I won’t let my children cross this street or even go out into the front yard because I’ve witnessed too many idiots acting like they are on a freeway.
When is the city going to get a clue? This is not a freeway and the residents in this area deserve to be safe. Traffic lights or stop signs need to be installed so that drivers do not just barrel through. Also, drivers need to STOP driving westbound on the eastbound shoulder… come to my neighborhood, bring a chair and I guarantee that you will see some of the most stupefying and horrific traffic violations. Better yet, please come and try to cross East Avenue anywhere from the 1100 to 1200 block. It will get your adrenaline pumping and scare the daylights out of you.
Pedestrians are seriously reckless these days.
Turlock needs some Zommies in the PD department, even if it means the write their paycheck in tickets. Folks in this area are wreckless with cell phone use, and either drive like maniacs or like the car is almost out of gas, nothing inbetween.