Posted on Thursday, 5/14/2009 - 9:51 a.m. PDT — by P5Ret
Yet another fatal collision on Oakley roads. By my count this makes 5 in about 1 year. For a city the size of Oakley this seems like a high number to me. There has been little to no mention in the news about this eventhough Main St (highway 4) was closed for several hours. Why, does no one care that someone died on our streets? Maybe as part of Oakley's plan to "spruce up" the city they should add signs at every entrance to the city that say WELCOME TO OAKLEY DRIVE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
I've lived here for some time now long before Oakley was a city, when there was a traffic complaint if you called the Sheriff's department you got an answer like "we are the Sheriff's department we don't do traffic", now we have that very same Sheriff's department contracting to the city for police services including traffic enforcement, so the answer now when you call is "we only have a couple of units on the street we can't be everywhere". So I guess the real question is this are the residents of Oakley going to put up with our City Council being asleep at the wheel, feeling that landscaping the center divider on Laurel or widening Main st between Bridgehead and Big Break, or a traffic signal at O'hara and West Cypress, is more important then public safety, or does anyone care? Remember the next time could be someone you care about in one of the collisions in Oakley.
Joined: Nov 2006
Current Posts: 224
P5, I think many would care if they knew, but the problems are that city council meetings are only held once a month (if). If you want the agenda you can get it a few days before. It isn't posted on the citys website. (or at least not the last time I looked) People themselves have so much going on with the state of the economy, especially in Ca. Unless someone they know is killed, its in the far recess's of anyones minds.
Whats your theory on why there are so many fatal accidents? Undivided roads would be one of my thoughts. Speeding. Youth. I was driving home today on highway 4, doing 65 and 70 and had cars flying by me. Why are all these idiots in such a rush? Guess they want to get home 5 minutes before I will. My feeling is 'whatever'. I'll stick to 65 and if you don't like my speed, or that I'm not tailgating the car in front of me, go around. Lifes not about how fast you can get to the end, but getting to the end.
Joined: Oct 2007
Current Posts: 687
If I had to make one theory as to the number of serious and fatal collisions in Oakley, I think I would have to say genreral disregard of traffic law, along with little enforcement. Speed violations being the number one violation that I see. Driveing on Laurel is now quite an adventure. But don't get me wrong it is not just Oakley that seems to have multiple violations occuring, I won't even get on the bypass due to the speed some people drive on it, you'd alomst think it was the new Antioch Speedway sometimes.
Joined: Jan 2008
Current Posts: 1304
If you think it's bad now just wait until cities' budgets get tighter and PDs have to start to canibalize their traffic divisions (and investigations) to fill in on the street when no new officers can be hired.
Joined: Nov 2006
Current Posts: 224
i think peoples axiety filled life is released when they drive. I rarely get on the bypass, but tend to go down shady lane (or some shady name?shady willow maybe) Or over to the road that runs the same direction as the bypass and goes all the way to balfour. I'm terrible with street names I just know how to get there, heaven forbid if I have to give someone directions. I do drive highway 4 4 days a week, and have found i'm generally comforted when the traffic bogs down as it means I won't watch someone doing 70 going in and out of lanes. Highway 4 has gotten worse in the last year and now tends to stay slow from pitts. bart to hillcrest. or in the mornings from A street till past loveridge. But I am blessed in these times to have a job unlike many others.
Joined: Sep 2007
Current Posts: 100
I was at the Race's last night at Antioch Speedway and there were 2 bad accidents Sep 20 2009 - Roy Fisher One of our beloved racers was involved in a pretty nasty flip on the front stretch during a Wingless Sprint heat race this past evening. This particular incident involved Ricardo Rivera and Roy Fisher. Fisher's number 22 machine did a complete 360 and ended up landing upright. Ricardo Rivera's 11 sprint never left the ground and he was out of the car before his broken wheel came to rest in turn 1. Attention was immediately directed at veteran racer Roy Fisher who was visibly shaken, and unable to get out of his vehicle. He was complaining of neck and back pain along with a serious concern about not being able to breath. He was put on oxygen while still in the car. Paramedics tried to assess his condition, given the limited mobility it was deemed necessary to call in a second ambulance. He was gingerly removed after a very long time and rushed to John Muir hospital. As of 2 AM; a fellow racer and friend of Roy Fisher stated to me the following about his condition...His oxygen level remains very low-doctors continue to have him on breathing equipment. His lungs are severely bruised. His back is broken in 3 places, they believe it is the L1 and L2 area. He remains in ICU and is on morphine to help with the pain. There was a mention of 3 months of immobility at minimum. This information came to me as they left the hospital.
UPDATE as of 9:45 AM: Roy has 4 broken bones in his upper back just below his shoulders. Doctors remain concerned about his bruised lungs. Roy continues to be on breathing equipment. He has severe abrasions to his elbows and knees due to the impact. His helmet was cracked and he has a soft tissue injury to his head. He will be fitted with a whole body cast today to stablize him. He remains in ICU. Doctors are asking no visitors or phone calls at this time due to the nature of his condition. A positive note; because he was wearing a Haans device he was not paralized and has full feeling in each of his extremities. Updates will be posted as we find out more information.
I'm sure I speak for the management when I say that we are saddened to say the least at the serious nature of his injuries. We certainly wish him a speedy recovery. If you have ever had the pleasure to meet Mr. Fisher, you were guaranteed to be greeted with a smile and a warm welcome. His love of racing is refreshing as he is always a top runner but he never takes it too serious. Please, if you pray, add him to your thoughts. There will be a donation fund and if you wish, to send cards/flowers/gifts address set up as soon as we can get it organized. As of this moment, our primary concern is his well being. I will try to keep everyone update as soon as I get any information.
There was another rather dramatic Wingless Sprint car flip prior to the incident noted above. This particular driver faired much better than Roy Fisher as he was able to walk away from the accident. As I gain information regarding his status it will also be disclosed here. We hope the #4 (name unknown at this time) continues to stay stable.
A full story will be posted tomorrow evening. As always; any statement posted is not necessarily the views of the Antioch Speedway management s:
Joined: Sep 2007
Current Posts: 100
Please keep these guys in prayer, these were horrific crashes and I'm happy to hear Roy survived but sounds like a long recovery. The accident happened right in front of me, thought the car was going to come over the fence and into the crowd, Thank The Lord it didn't, it would of been a horriable outcome because lots of people sit close to the track.
God Bless all the guys that race and keep them safe!!!
Joined: Jun 2009
Current Posts: 5
My feeling is, if law inforcement doesn't stop people because its not important enough to them and they have bigger fish to fry. Then no one cares and drives how ever they want to. You get away with it why not do it all the time? Once one of the coucil memebers or law inforcment have a family member killed then they will take action. Other wise they can't be bothered.