Santa Maria Police: Nearly 150 collisions reported in 25-day stretch
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Officers say they're seeing an unusually high number car collisions throughout the city.
During the first 25 days of the new year, officers reported close to 150 cRASHES.
Matt Amenta, who has been living here for several years, isn’t surprised.
“I believe it. People run red lights. They turn without looking,” Amenta said.
Nathan Totorica with the Santa Maria Police Department said most of the collisions were caused by drivers under the influence and running through red lights.
“Knowing these statistics, we did some specific enforcement’s and focused on those high traffic collision areas,” Totorica said.
Totorica said no area is immune.
They’re
seeing dangerous driving near just about all major intersections in
the City.
One
of the spots where they’re seeing a particularly high volume of
accidents is on Bradley and Betteravia roads.
and
that's not the only trouble intersection.
“The
primary locations for traffic collisions have been Broadway and
Betteravia, and Donovan and Broadway,” Totorica said.
While
Amenta believes traffic didn’t used to be this busy when he first
moved to Santa Maria, he’s glad police are being proactive in
minimizing collisions through traffic enforcements.
“It’s
gotten noticeably worst. I feel like there’s times where I’ve
even gotten myself in a fender bender just from people stopping to
quick at lights or stop signs or whatever it is.” Amenta
said.
Officers
want to remind the community to slow down, limit all distractions and
pay attention to what’s around you.