Drive too fast on Pacific Avenue in Pierce County? You might reconsider as of Sept. 26
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, plus other local law enforcement, will be monitoring the Pacific Avenue/Mountain Highway corridor this week in an effort to reduce high-risk driving behaviors.
The emphasis patrols on the highway, also known as state Route 7, begin Monday and continue through Thursday, said Trooper Robert Reyer. In addition to the Sheriff’s Department and Washington State Patrol, Lakewood and Puyallup police also will take part in the patrols.
The patrols are needed because there have been several fatality collisions on the highway this year, Reyer said. And one of those fatalities occurred last week when a 68-year old Elbe woman died following a wreck near Parkland Saturday afternoon.
The woman was headed west on 143rd Street and then was struck by a Puyallup driver after she tuned left onto SR-7, according to State Patrol.
“We believe it’s important for us to now enhance our presence in the area,” said Reyer, adding that not only have they observed dangerous driving on interstates but also state routes.
“People are just not following the rules of the road anymore, or not as precisely as they should be following them,” he said.
The emphasis patrols were made possible by a Washington Traffic Safety grant, according to a news release. Safety improvements also are planned for the SR-7 corridor, according to the state Department of Transportation.
