In a united front to address a prevailing public safety concern, city officials from both North Las Vegas and Las Vegas are advancing efforts to secure a dangerous intersection, following the heart-rending demise of 12-year-old Cristofer Suarez, who was struck by an alleged impaired driver. This tragic event has catalyzed a bilateral initiative aimed at mitigating future risks at the Owens Avenue and 21st Street junction, a locale recently marred by misfortune and loss.
The plan for intersection improvements, which comes in the wake of not only Cristofer's death but also the sad passing of another student, Haylee Ryan, who died in a clash with a school bus, is set in motion with immediate enhancements on school flashers. Starting Friday morning, the flashers' operating hours will be extended, as reported by News 3 Las Vegas, to include timeframes consistent with when students of surrounding middle and elementary schools come and go — previously, operation was limited to high school student commute times only.
Efforts will also include the revamp of a crosswalk to boost its visibility for both pedestrians and drivers, nudging the importance of vigilance amongst those who traverse these asphalt divides. In a longer-term move, "The city of Las Vegas is in the design phase for a full traffic signal to be installed at the intersection," with about 30% of the work already done according to the project planners, and a tentative construction date set for 2026, as stated by KTNV Channel 13.
