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Teenager hit while crossing street raises concerns over stretch of road

Posted at 10:55 PM, Nov 12, 2014
and last updated 2014-11-12 23:17:04-05

KENTWOOD, Mich. -- A teenager is in critical condition after trying to cross busy 44th Street.

Grand Rapids Police said the 18-year-old was trying to cross in front of a bus on 44th Street near Breton Road when an SUV heading in the same direction hit her.

The accident is raising concerns over that stretch of road.

For seven years, Trina Davis has worked at the Admiral Discount Tobacco, just feet from where the accident happened. She said she's witnessed several crashes, including the one on Wednesday.

"She was trying to cut across 44th Street to catch the bus coming in the opposite direction, and the car did not see her and hit her," Davis said.

Jaywalking, Davis said, is a big issue in the area.

"Kids don't want to use the crosswalk at 44th and Breton," Davis said. "They try to beat traffic, and it's scary. We see it all the time. Kids sometimes make it and, obviously, sometimes--today--they don't."

In 2013, Michigan Auto Lawranked the intersection as the seventh most dangerous in the Grand Rapids area, with a total of 44 crashes.

That comes as no surprise to Alicia Takens, who works at the Dollar Tree, which is also just feet from where Wednesday's crash happened.

Takens said she has seen countless close calls, as well as the aftermath of several crashes in the area.

"I've seen people jaywalking from the bus stop on both sides--crashes going off in the turn lanes for the turn-around--people almost getting hit when they come in the parking lot," Takens said.

All that, Taken said, has made her nervous over the years. "It makes me nervous being in here at work watching some of the time how close it is to people getting hit."

As for Davis, she said she wants people to begin obeying the law.

"Just please use the crosswalks. Just be really conscience of what's going on around you," Davis said. "Cars aren't going to stop for you, unfortunately."

Police have not identified the injured teenager as of Wednesday night.