Since 2017, important work continues in the City of Tulsa, regarding assistance with disabled, both physical and mentally challenged pedestrians.
Connected crosswalks and automated intersections with modern assistive technology extends organized travel systems nationwide.
APS devices communicate “walk” and “don’t walk” information in non-visual formats.
The signals beep constantly, directing someone with limited sight to the crosswalk, and once the button is pushed, the tone changes when it is safe to cross.
Also, non-slip mats are beaded into the gravel material at the base of pedestrian crosswalks near intersections to prevent slips, trips and falls
One incident involving an autistic teen and the Paul Moreno family sparked attention within the public safety community. Paul Swisher, 17, was hit near 31st and Mingo early on the morning of February 23, 2017.
An autistic teenager was involved in a hit-and-run accident. While the mother attended household chores, the autistic teen ran from the yard.
The autistic teen was upset because he could not have spaghetti that night. Ultimately, he ran into a busy intersection unable to understand the pedestrian crossing signs. Unfortunately, the driver of a SUV struck the autistic teenager and then drove off. Just seconds before the hit-n-run accident a Good Samaritan walked by. The Good Samaritan was able to notify authorities quickly. Police found the SUV abandoned a few hours later.
Officers say the teen was wearing dark colored clothing when the Chevy Tahoe hit him in front of the Briar Village Shopping Center.
The teen’s mom reported him missing nearly 40 minutes before the accident.
Officers later found the SUV at the Autumn Ridge Apartments in the 1700 block of South Memorial Drive, but its driver was nowhere to be found.
At last word, police said the teenager is in critical condition with head and leg injuries.
At the hospital, Paul Swisher was in an induced coma surrounded by his family.
Daisy said, “I felt a little better knowing I could say my last words.”
Paul died on Wednesday.
While Tulsa police are looking for the driver who hit and killed a 17-year-old boy, his grieving mother said she’s thankful for the time she had with her son.
Paul’s mother, Araceli Moreno, said it was a privilege to have him as her son.
“A great, awesome, talented kid,” she said.
The 17-year-old had autism; something his family said is often misunderstood.
Paul’s sister, Daisy, said, “There’s challenges, probably almost every day.”
“Autistic children, they’re all unique in their own way. There’s not an autistic child that is the same, they’re all different,” Araceli said.
an autistic teen on February 23, 2017 and kept driving.
Police now have arrested a man they say hit and killed an autistic teen and kept driving.
Officers identify the suspect as Dereco Foster. Police are booking him into jail on complaints of leaving the scene of a fatality accident, driving with no license and driving without insurance.
As part of one of PACETULSA AGS FOUNDATION National Campaigns, we would like to address expansion of connected automated crosswalk intersections.
High-Intensity Automated Walkable crosswalk intersection treatments will take some pressure off caregivers that assist challenged families.
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Safer streets: Monthly walk audits analyze many factors for the community by foot and pedal
Chairman Mitch Drummond passes out neon vests to everyone — reporter and photographer included — and debriefs the group: We’ll be walking in a square, starting with the northeast corner crosswalk.
The group, which advises the Indian Nations Council of Governments and City of Tulsa, is conducting walk audits in each of the nine city council districts this year through a grant from Pathways to Health.
The walk audits report on the conditions of Tulsa’s bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, like sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes. A stretch of 100-degree days postponed the group’s scheduled July audit, so this crew volunteered to demonstrate an audit at the intersection of South Yale Avenue and East 91st Street instead.
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