Traffic light rushed into service at intersection where child died

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 | 10:19 a.m.

Children crossing the dangerous intersection of Lake Mead Boulevard and Simmons Street in North Las Vegas will have a safe way to get to school with the installation of a new traffic light -- three months ahead of schedule.

The traffic light was installed at the intersection Wednesday and was expected to be fully operational today, Raymond Burke, transportation services manager for North Las Vegas Public Works, said.

The intersection was the site of an accident Oct. 3 that killed 8-year-old Erik Quintana Jr. when a driver allegedly ran a stop sign and collided with a van carrying the boy and his family.

Parents came out in full force to picket the intersection following the accident, calling for a traffic light immediately. Many refused to allow their children to walk to school, saying they were afraid to let them cross the street.

The Clark County School District stepped in to help, adding two stops to its normal bus route to Detwiler Elementary School to allow students to avoid the heavy traffic.

A permanent traffic light was not expected to be installed at the intersection until March. The usual process would begin with drafting design plans, opening a bid for the light, and then presenting the request to the City Council for final approval.

But in the past five weeks, Public Works department was able to pool its resources and purchase equipment ahead of the bidding process, Burke said. Traffic poles already in stock for another project were swapped for the Lake Mead intersection, and lights were ordered.

In all the cost for the signal was $80,000, including pouring the foundation.