HUNTINGTON BEACH, SUNSET BEACH : Problem PCH Intersection to Get Crosswalk

An accident-plagued intersection in Sunset Beach where a man and his 8-year-old son were struck and killed by a car in March will get a crosswalk and other safety improvements.

The city of Huntington Beach, in partnership with Caltrans and the county, will add left-turn signals and establish a crosswalk across Warner Avenue on the north side of the intersection with Pacific Coast Highway.

Nicolas Deras, 39, and his son, Nicolas Jr., were killed when they dashed across Pacific Coast Highway on the northeast side of the intersection, which does not have a crosswalk. After stopping at the center median, Deras and his son ran in front of two lanes of cars that were stopped for a left turn, not realizing there were additional lanes of oncoming traffic.

Huntington Beach City Engineer Jim Otterson said work on the $200,000 project will begin in April. It had been in the works since 1989 “but due to some falling through the cracks, it was delayed,” Otterson said.

The Sunset Beach Homeowners Assn. will express concerns about the project with Caltrans engineers at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Women’s Club on Broadway at Bayview. Residents say the triangular design of the proposed crosswalk is unsafe.

“We who drive through that intersection almost daily feel this will be very dangerous,” said association President Phyllis Maywhort. “This will create more accidents.”