GOOSE CREEK, S.C. – Neighbors in the Boulder Bluff community are pleading for sidewalks and speed humps after a pedestrian was hit last Thursday.
According to the GoFundMe page set up for the victim’s medical expenses, Carlos Inglesias is in critical condition. The accident occurred just a few houses from where his family lives on Amy Drive.
“Unfortunately, this neighborhood does not have any sidewalks for pedestrians and not enough street lighting,” the GoFundMe page set up by a cousin of Inglesias states. “This is a scary thought when you imagine any of your loved ones walking through there where vehicles just fly by with no care in the world.”
The latest accident has renewed the push for sidewalks in Boulder Bluff. Jennifer Ash lives on Amy Drive near the location where Inglesias was hit. After the accident, she created a petition on Change.org to demand sidewalks on Amy Drive and Stephanie Drive.
“Some yards have too high a slope, or when raining there is too much water for pedestrians to walk without getting in the road,” she said. “With the school kids and people walking to the convenience store we need sidewalks.”
Ash said this an urgent matter, as it is not the first time someone has been hit. She is also asking for speed humps throughout the neighborhood to control the speed of cars.
Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler said he agrees there is a need for sidewalks on those streets. Funding would have to come from the state, as the city does not own them.
Mayor Heitzler said if presented with the petition he is happy to pass along to state representatives. “I think they need it and they should get it.”
According to Heitzler, there have been attempts to obtain funding in the past, dating back 25 years. To create sidewalks, he said residents would have to sign permits to give up a piece of their property to install them, which residents were reluctant to do. He said the city ran into the same issue about 10 years ago when attempting again to receive a federal grant for the sidewalks.
A Facebook page titled Sidewalks for Boulder Bluff has also been established.
