Study shows speeding not South Park problem

Speed wasn't a problem on roads through South Park, according to a traffic study done shortly before five people died in a one-car crash there last month, Allegheny County Public Works Director Tom Donatelli told County Council members Tuesday.

The study found that the average speed of traffic is 31 mph, slightly above the posted speed limit of 25 mph, Donatelli said.

He told members of County Council's Public Works and Public Safety committees that county police conducted the study in February and March after someone complained to his department that traffic was moving too fast.

On March 29, five people died on Corrigan Road in South Park. A driver lost control of his car when he suffered an aneurysm and ran over three pedestrians. The driver and his wife died after the car stuck a tree. Police said the car was going more than 60 mph at the time.

After the accident, some park patrons reported that some motorists were driving too fast and that police were not giving out enough tickets.

Donatelli and County Police Superintendent Kenneth Fulton answered committee members' questions yesterday, although Public Works Committee Chairman Rich Fitzgerald cautioned Fulton and Donatelli not to describe specifics of the fatal accident.

County Manager Robert Webb had ordered them not to attend last month's meeting out of concern for possible 'criminal liability' prior to an April 19 inquest into the crash by Coroner Dr. Cyril H. Wecht.

Fulton told county lawmakers that he agrees with Donatelli that speeding is not 'that much of a problem' in South Park.

'People driving 40, 50 miles an hour there are the exception to the rule,' Fulton said.

He said county police also use a trailer with a radar unit that displays traffic speeds to encourage motorists not to speed.

Fulton said county police are short-staffed. There are 24 officers stationed in South Park, and 20 officers in North Park who must patrol all the parks.

'We are down 40 officers from the last administration,' Fulton said.

Councilman Ron Francis, a Republican from Ben Avon, said park safety might be enhanced by adding and improving barriers and other infrastructure, rather than adding county police.

He also suggested the county might hire neighboring municipalities to provide more patrols there.

Local police do respond to park emergency calls now but only assist county officers, Fulton said.

Brian Nearing can be reached at bnearing@tribweb.com or (412) 391-0927.