Eureka resident urges repairs to Waterfront Trail after serious fall
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Summary
A 73-year-old Eureka resident told council that a large bump on the Waterfront Trail caused a fall on July 4 that resulted in a broken rib and hospital treatment; the resident urged the city to prioritize maintenance on that stretch of trail.
EUREKA, Calif. — During public comment at the Oct. 21 Eureka City Council meeting, longtime resident Jerry Post described a July 4 fall on the Waterfront Trail that he said was caused by a 12-inch-high bump in the trail’s asphalt.
Post, 73, said he was walking toward fireworks when he struck the defect while carrying a chair, fell and broke a rib. He said he was rushed to the emergency room, received a CT scan because he is on blood thinners, and was treated; he told the council he subsequently learned at least three other people required emergency care after falling on the same stretch that night.
“I broke a rib. I hit my head. I had to go to the ER because I'm on blood thinners,” Post said. He told the council the stretch “is desperately in need of maintenance” and called it a potential liability that could cost someone their life.
Why it matters
Post said the stretch of trail is heavily used and lacks adequate lighting and maintenance. He urged the council to prioritize repairs for the walkways that residents and visitors use frequently.
Council response and next steps
Council members acknowledged the concern during later business; staff did not provide a timeline in the public comment segment. The item raised an operational maintenance issue that the public-works department will likely need to review and schedule for repair.
Ending
Post asked the city to make the neglected stretch a priority for repair so it is safe for pedestrians and event attendees; the council did not vote on this matter at the meeting but heard the account during the public-comment period.