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February 12, 2009
In the aftermath of the January 31 accident on Palisades Drive that claimed the life of 18-year-old Nicholas Rosser, the community has pulled together to examine ways to prevent future driving tragedies.
As reported in the Palisadian-Post, more than 100 residents and city officials attended a meeting in Rustic Canyon on February 2 to explore ways to curb dangerous speeding on Palisades Drive and engineer a safer roadway.
Last Thursday, Highlands resident David Eagle held a meeting for teens to begin a dialogue for finding ways to emphasize safety and good sense among the town's youngest drivers.
Eagle and Highlands teenager Eric Bollens (a sophomore at UCLA) have organized the Pali Safety/Westside Safety Committee and are looking for a second youth, preferably a high school junior or sophomore, to co-chair the committee.
Last night, a second public meeting was held at Rustic Canyon, with Councilman Bill Rosendahl scheduled to attend. The meeting's agenda included discussing residents' suggestions for improving safety on Palisades Drive, as well as hearing recommendations for the road from L.A. Department of Transportation engineers.
This past week, the Post received numerous letters and e-mails from residents regarding Palisades Drive, which included recommendations for improvements to the road and cautionary reminders such as 'Roads cannot be engineered to prevent accidents caused by speeding. Palisades Drive is a safe road if you drive the speed limit.'
Other readers suggested that warning signs be installed to remind drivers to slow down, especially as they enter the S-curves in the canyon, and that there be memorials to all the drivers, pedestrians and bike riders who have died on Palisades Drive.
In December, Highlands resident and USC engineering student James Carcich prepared a report on Palisades Drive and wrote a paper with the engineering remedies that include (1) center-road dividers with reflective markings placed between the four highway lanes, and (2) signs that warn drivers of the downhill gradient and of the impending S-curves.
Meanwhile, as part of ongoing fundraising for Sgt. Curt Massey's family, California Pizza Kitchen is donating 20 percent of customer tabs and take-out orders to his memorial fund this week.
Palisades Elementary organized a student pizza day for 400 students and, at Calvary Christian School, parents provided students, teachers and staff with CPK lunches in honor of Massey.
Pinocchio's, located on Monument, is also donating 20 percent of its receipts (dine in, take-out and catering) to the Massey Memorial Fund for the week of February 9 through 15. Simply mention Massey when ordering and reference this article.
Massey, a Palisades resident and Culver City police officer, was killed in a head-on collision on the Santa Monica freeway on January 28. He is survived by his wife and three small children. Checks made payable to the Sgt. Curt Massey Memorial Fund can be sent to the Culver City Employees Federal Credit Union, 9770 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232.
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