Pedestrian safety campaign kicks off

A campaign to promote pedestrian safety kicked off Friday morning in the Casino Fandango parking lot, near where a man was killed crossing South Carson Street in May.

"For 14 years, Nevada has been one of the top 10 states for pedestrian fatalities, and we want to change that," said Nevada Highway Patrol Major Brian Sanchez.

Eric Pryor, 48, was killed June 10 as he tried to cross the highway in front of Casino Fandango.

On March 13, Denise Lohman, 51, was also killed crossing the highway near Colorado Street late at night.

"We recognize the devastating tragic losses suffered by their family and friends; but tragedy does not stop there. Innocent drivers, along with their families and passengers in their vehicles, are forever impacted and suffer tremendous emotional trauma witnessing the last moments of the pedestrian's life," said Sheriff Ken Furlong.

With funding from the Joining Forces Campaign administered by the Office of Traffic Safety, extra officers will be on patrol ticketing both drivers and pedestrians who fail to observe traffic law.

According to statistics from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, 14 percent of traffic-related fatalities in Nevada involved pedestrians.

Mayor Bob Crowell said one step toward a safer commute will be this winter when a traffic signal is put in between Clearview Drive and Koontz Lane, paid for by the Nevada Department of Transportation, Casino Fandango and the Carson City Public Works.

"One of our goals in Carson City is to develop a pedestrian friendly town downtown," he said.