Resident and school employee urge flashing crosswalks after student bike accident

A school employee’s statement read at the La Conner Town Council meeting detailed repeated hazardous driving behavior at local intersections and urged the town to install pedestrian-safety devices.

Tracy Barnett (speaker 18) read a statement from school employee Corey Catubo describing daily dangers at crosswalks, drivers running stop signs, and a past student-bike collision. The statement said morning crosswalk safety duties often expose school staff and children to risky traffic behavior and recommended a flashing four-way stop at Sixth and Morris and a pedestrian flashing crosswalk near Pioneer Market to improve visibility and slow drivers.

Barnett told the council she has personally witnessed drivers fail to stop and recounted that a fourth-grade student on a bike was struck by a car. “Every single morning, I witnessed dangerous traffic situations at our intersections,” the statement read. The request asked the council to act before a more serious injury occurs and to consider targeted improvements at identified crossings.

Council members acknowledged the safety concerns raised during public comment and noted they have discussed traffic-calming measures in other contexts; no formal motion to fund or install the suggested devices was recorded in the meeting minutes. The town’s staff and council suggested exploring additional crossing devices and the council discussed prior traffic management experience from recent events.