Parents Appeal to Irvine Officials to Check Intersection

Parents say that an intersection where a 14-year-old boy was killed seven years ago is still dangerous and in need of a crossing guard.

A recent accident at Michelson Drive and Yale Avenue near two Irvine schools has motivated parents to ask city officials again for a crossing guard.

Melissa Horn, a student at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, was struck by a van Oct. 23 while riding her bicycle through a crosswalk at the intersection on her way to school. She suffered a concussion and bruises.

“My wife and I are relatively new to the neighborhood,” said her father, Steven. “But since this accident, we’ve become aware that other children have not been so lucky at this intersection.”

In 1988, University High School honors student David Leidal, 14, was struck and killed while riding his bicycle in a crosswalk at Michelson Drive and Yale Avenue, a four-way stop. Witnesses said the 17-year-old driver ran the stop sign. The driver was convicted of misdemeanor manslaughter, sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

In November, 1993, an Orange County Superior Court jury found the city partially to blame for the accident by ignoring repeated complaints about the safety of the intersection. The city was ordered to pay $200,000 to Leidal’s family and has since lowered speed limits, eliminated lanes and increased police patrols before and after school.

The City Council plans to review the intersection Nov. 14. But Councilman Greg Smith said more than a crossing guard may be needed:

“We may have a bigger problem. We need to see if we can get to the root cause of what’s causing all the problems with traffic on Michelson.”