Boise Bench neighbors take action after 5-year-old is nearly killed

BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — Homeowners on Kootenai Street are taking action to ensure that Max Wyatt is the only child ever hit on their street.

Wyatt was hit by a minivan while biking with his father nearly two years ago. The then five-year-old was dragged over forty feet. Since then, he's undergone over a dozen surgeries.

Residents on the street are banding together to create signs reminding drivers to abide by the speed limit.

Monica Lehman, who lives with her husband and young grandson, worries about the children on Kootenai Street and hopes to see a change.

"I've witnessed people going as fast as 40 miles per hour, even faster," Lehman said. "The speed limit is 25 miles per hour."

The "Slow Down or you'll get the Kootenai Scrutiny" signs were printed by the Depot Bench Neighborhood Association in partnership with BSU design students.

Neighbor Megan Brandel says she thinks the signs are a fun way of making people aware that there are many school kids walking home from South Junior High School, Monroe Elementary School, and Sacred Heart Catholic School.

"We have seen people speeding, passing other drivers who are going the speed limit, drag racing, and moving into the bike lane to pass on the right," Brandel said. "It really puts cyclists and pedestrians in danger."

Resident Ryan Rulon says he believes the signs are the first step in the traffic calming process with the Ada County Highway District.

"They bring awareness to people to slow down and to be aware of other vehicles, pedestrians, and bikers that also use the street," Rulon said.

According to Lehman, the "Kootenai Street Traffic Calming Petition" was circulated and submitted to ACHD in November of 2016. She says there have been several meetings between ACHD and Kootenai residents.

"ACHD has already taken the necessary steps to start the process for a 'Concept Study' to address traffic mitigation concerns," Lehman said. "Kootenai qualified for the study based on traffic volume and verified traffic speeds."

ACHD is in the process of hiring a consultant to do the concept study and determine what will be implemented.

"A concept study provides an opportunity for ACHD to conduct neighborhood outreach to identify solutions to be considered for implementation that would create a more pedestrian friendly environment and address traffic calming," said Nicole Du Bois, Public Information Officer for ACHD.

To ensure the best solution for this corridor, ACHD and the selected consulting firm will develop and evaluate a concept study during Spring 2018.

Du Bois did mention, however, that Kootenai qualified for traffic calming because of traffic volume, not because of speeding.

"We are not saying that people are not speeding, but the posted speed limit is 25 mph, and the average speed was 27 mph. The peak hour average speed was also 27mph," Du Bois said.

She says there was a "very, very small percentage" of traffic that was going 40 mph.

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