"I talked to the police officer
they said there was three or four hit and runs here and I thought it was pretty
unusual for a small town," says Cahill.
In the past two years, three people were killed by hit
and run drivers in Nipomo. Sheriff deputies have only one suspect in custody for
the most recent fatal accident.
"Driving down Thompson, you won't
really see anybody when you're driving down. Then all of a sudden, you'll see a
person flash right by so it's kinda scary," says Nipomo resident Brian Cahill.
San Luis Obispo County Public
Works released a statement to Central Coast News saying "Thompson Avenue is
outside the urban reserve line for Nipomo and is considered a rural area.
Streetlights are generally are not present in these rural
areas."
San Luis Obispo County Public
Works says Thompson Avenue has a low collision rate compared to other county
highways with just about half the average collision rate for county rural roads.
Fourth District Supervisor Paul
Teixeira says his number one suggestion would be to add shoulders and bike lanes
but says residents he spoke to complain about light pollution and want to keep
their night sky.
Rural or not Cahill says the roads need to be made safe.
"Definitely, needs more street
lights, it's a long road, you know, something safe," says Cahill. "That would
help."
