Resident urges action after pickup hits daughter at obstructed intersection

Jared Sorensen told the Gunnison City Council on Sept. 3 that his daughter was struck by a pickup as she pulled from the intersection at 100 South and Center Field Way and urged the city to fix obstructed sightlines there.

Sorensen said he photographed the scene and shared the images with councilors, and asked whether anyone could safely pull onto the main road given the view in those photos. "If you've seen all those pictures, can any one of you say that you could safely pull out on the main street with the view that I sent you?" he asked. He warned that the problem is worse for high-profile vehicles such as semitrailers that need more room to accelerate and change lanes.

Mayor (unnamed) and staff responded that trimming work had been done on the north side of the intersection and that crews could address the south side as well. Council members and Sorensen discussed other possible responses, including a 10-foot fence and consideration of a traffic signal; Sorensen noted a stoplight would not solve visibility for some right-hand turns. The mayor acknowledged the request and asked Sorensen to continue sending photos when the condition recurs.

Why it matters: The intersection serves commercial traffic and agricultural vehicles, and Sorensen said limited alternate routes make the crossing important for oversized or long vehicles. The council's immediate response — tree trimming and additional review — aims to reduce near-term risk; any larger engineering change (signal installation, fencing or curb modification) would require further staff study and potentially budget action.

Council next steps: Staff said they would review sightlines on the south side, accept additional photos from Sorensen and others, and consider longer-term traffic-calming or signal options. No formal motion or vote on capital work was recorded in the transcript.