Rob AriasThe pedestrian who was tragically struck and killed by a semi on Tuesday morning crossing Powell has been identified by The Alameda County Coroner’s Officer in the linked East Bay Times article. Mahin Ashki, 58, of Lexington, Kentucky was a native of Iran who moved to the U.S. in the mid-1970’s. Ashki’s plight to stay in the country after the threat of deportation for marriage fraud was covered by the national media back in 2001. Ashki is survived by two children and a husband, who have not been identified.
The Powell Street Urban Design Plan [PDF] was created in 2011 to address some of the dangers of this intersection but few of the recommendations made by it have been implemented in the five years since.
The EPD has since provided data about vehicle incidents in the area that seems contrary to what most residents have verbally indicated:
The Emeryville BPAC (Bike/Ped Advisory Committee) will be holding their bi-monthly meeting on Monday, November 7th at 5:30 pm in the garden level conference room. BPAC members will discuss findings from their recent field trip to the area and there will be opportunity for the public to bring forth their concerns during the public comment period and during the Public Works Department report.
[Update: The “field trip” findings were discussed at the last meeting and thus there will be no opportunity to comment on this item. Doing so would violate The Brown Act.]
Emeryville: Kentucky woman killed by truck fought against deportation
By Katrina Cameron
EMERYVILLE — The pedestrian who was fatally struck by a semi-truck while she was crossing the street Tuesday has been identified as a 58-year-old woman who fought against being deported to her native Iran.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Officer identified the pedestrian as Mahin Ashki, 58, of Lexington, Kentucky. She died after she was hit around 9:24 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Powell Street and Christie Avenue.
Read More on East Bay Times →
[emailpetition id=”2″]
[signaturelist id=”2″]
[adrotate group=”10″]
What a shameful struggle this woman had. And then to have it end in E’ville traffic. Terrible. https://books.google.com/books?id=vqwx83HFwRQC&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=Mahin+Ashki&source=bl&ots=t86nwMBg7Z&sig=G35btyer5_Srm8mIJ-lfip2F_kU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjonJy_n5DQAhULjVQKHV9PDK0Q6AEISjAJ#v=onepage&q=Mahin%20Ashki&f=false
What is the leading cause of these accidents? Did the truck run the light? Did the woman cross at an unprotected intersection? I don’t want to sound insensitive and my heart goes out to her family for their loss.
Thanks Gary. She was indeed within the crosswalk we are told but the investigation by the EPD could take several months. Many agree that not allowing cars to make rights on red after stopping in tandem with better visibility and signage would reduce these incidents.
I’m from a city with very few walkers. It took me awhile to get used to the foot traffic here and I still find myself locking up the breaks due to a blind spot in my Jeep. Everyone needs to slow it down and pay better attention. Drivers, walkers, bikers, etc. Life is short. Don’t rush it.
Who do we go to in E’ville to make a suggestion for changes to this intersection? Just today, I was crossing to go to TJ’s and was walking while the walk sign was flashing. An idiot decided to take a right turn off of Powell and nearly hit me. I think it is imperative that we have the city put a no right on red at that intersection. Many times have I seen this happen. Also, when you are driving X and want to pull over to the right lane to pull into the parking lot, cars are turning right and nearly crashing into people pulling into the parking lot. This is a very simple fix and needs to change! Srsly!
Leslie, I encourage you to contact Emeryville City Engineer Maurice Kaufman at mkaufman@emeryville.org and acting Caltrans District 4 Bicycle Coordinator Sergio Ruiz at sergio.ruiz@dot.ca.gov. You might also call the Emeryville PD at 510-596-3700.