City considering changes at site of fatal crash

A week before a fatal crash on the city's west side claimed two lives, city engineers began a traffic safety study to evaluate solutions for the accident-prone intersection.

Richard "Dick" Krenke, 76, and John Krenke, 71, both of Sioux Falls, died Friday while pulling out of a Hy-Vee parking lot at Marion Road and 26th Street. They were attempting to cross 26th Street at Edna Avenue but their red Geo Metro was struck by a westbound Sonata.

Sioux Falls traffic engineers will be working with police over the next week or so to study the intersection, just west of Interstate 29. Principal Traffic Engineer Health Hoftizer said it's likely they will propose a median at Edna Avenue to prevent drivers from crossing or turning left onto 26th Street.

The few-block stretch of 26th Street between Marion Road and Interstate 29 has been the site of more than 100 crashes over the last decade, including another fatal one in March 2012 that killed a motorcyclist who collided with an SUV that was turning from Edna Avenue.

The intersection is one of the few on 26th Street between Marion Road and Shirley Avenue that doesn't have a traffic signal. Hoftizer said traffic signals are unlikely because of the effect it would have on traffic flow. Cross traffic volumes aren't heavy enough to justify a stop light, which makes eliminating the intersection more likely.

"It's been under consideration that it's a spot that should have a median through it," Hoftiezer said.

Jeanie Schoenwald King uses the intersection a few times a week on her way to or from Hy-Vee and other nearby stores. She said she tries to avoid it but can't because she uses the interstate to get home.

"Every time I am entering and exiting, it is very difficult to decide if and when to take the chance to pull out," King said. "There really should be some kind of stop light there. I realize there is one on 26th Street and Marion road, but there must be something done."

King is also concerned about the speed of drivers on the stretch of road. Hoftizer said the speed ranges from 30 mph to 50 mph. City officials want to decrease that by at least 10 mph.

"That's something we need to address," Hoftizer said.

Accident numbers have fallen off some in recent years even as traffic has increase, probably because fewer people are taking the risk, Hoftiezer said.

"It's gotten harder to do so people are crossing," he said. "They are using the other routes."

Police spokesman Sam Clemens said at the moment, choosing alternate exit and entrance points may be the best option.

"If it's not easy to make a left turn, try a different exit or make a right turn," he said. "It might add a bit more length or time to the destination, but it's easier and safer to make a right turn with traffic than going across multiple lanes to make a left turn."

Traffic accident volume on 26th Street between Marion Road and Interstate 29

2006: 28

2007: 18

2008: 5

2009: 14

2010: 13

2011: 7

2012: 11

2013: 7

2014: 6

Source: Sioux Falls Police