Road Blocks Proposed After Deadly Santa Monica Accident

It has been almost seven years since a fatal Santa Monica pedestrian accident that claimed the lives of ten people and injured 63 others.  The deadly accident occurred when an 86-year-old man drove his car through a crowded Farmers’ Market in Downtown.  The police chief at the time called this incident, “the single most horrific, devastating scene of tragedy I've ever witnessed in 30 years of law enforcement.” This tragic accident is one that Santa Monica residents haven’t forgotten and never will.

Recently, officials have proposed a new road blockade system that they believe will make Santa Monica’s markets a safer place for the public.  This proposal includes the purchase of 12 “Dragnet Vehicle Arresting Barriers,” which are reinforced nets that have the ability to stop cars and prevent dangerous accidents.  These nets would be used to block off roads where markets are held.

These dragnets are constructed of chain link material, which is secured to posts that are embedded into the sidewalk.  The nets are approximately 4 feet in height and would cover the width of the street.

Jennifer Taylor, senior development analyst in City Hall’s Economic Development Department, said that the barriers are frequently used to protect construction workers from vehicle traffic.  “Santa Monica will have the safest Farmers’ Market in the whole U.S., if not the world, with these dragnets. It’s by far the best type of system that keeps everyone safe without causing any kind of harm,” said Taylor.