Yet another accident at an intersection in Pine Grove is raising concerns amongst citizens opposed to what one resident referred to as, “the world’s most idiotic traffic signal.” The project, funded by Caltrans, has directly resulted in at least six accidents since the light was installed in mid-2005 at the intersection of Ridge Road and Highway 88. Most resident’s specific concerns center on an unsignaled left hand turn lane that seems to be the cause of every accident so far. TSPN’s contributing photographer Bill Lavallie has been following these accidents since their inception. Monday morning, a driver proceeding up the hill east bound failed to notice the small sign that states “yield to oncoming traffic.” 
The driver turned left at the light, and was broadsided by a pickup hauling a flatbed trailer loaded with scrap car parts. “This intersection has brought repeated accidents of this nature due to the fact that CALTRANS refuses to put a real turn signal on the left hand turn lane. It is only a matter of time before we have another fatality at this intersection,” said Lavallie. Moderate injuries were reported as a result of this latest accident. TSPN will have a more in-depth story later this week as we gather more information.
