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Pray for Ryan
Now and Then in the SCV | Commentary by Darryl Manzer
| Monday, Sep 7, 2015

darrylmanzer0215If you’ve been out of town for the weekend, isn’t it wonderful to think about getting back home late today? Hey – at least the price of gasoline is a lot lower. Enjoy the drive. And please be safe.

We’ve got a number of intersections in the SCV where you must be extra careful. The worst one in recent months has to be the intersection of Sierra Highway and Vasquez Canyon Road.

I don’t know what is so important that one has to speed up and try to beat the red light. Like the guy on the motorcycle at who was killed trying to do that. The young man didn’t make it through the light. He didn’t know what hit him, since death was instant. That usually happens when your head is detached from your body.

Last week it was car-on-car. Now a young child of 5 years is going to have to learn to walk again. He has some other internal injuries, too. Time will tell how he will recover. Looking OK now.

I don’t know if anything can be done about that corner. Reduce the speed limit? Increase the yellow light length of time?

I travel that road a bit, and I think there is something about having to wait at the light for so long before one can turn onto Sierra Highway from Vasquez. If you’re familiar with that light, you know if you don’t make it, you’re in for a long wait. Maybe three or four minutes. So some folks, knowing the light takes so long, see the yellow light as a signal to drive like crazy to beat the red.

Or maybe they just don’t think. Those same folks would also try the game, “Beat the train to the crossing.”

How many other intersections like this are having the same type of problem? Do you know of one in your neighborhood?

Back in the day, before there was a Highway 14 or Interstate 5, we just had Highway 6 (called Sierra Highway today) and Highway 99. I knew of one bad intersection on 99. It was at Pico Canyon Road and Highway 99. That time it was me on the motorcycle crossing the big highway. I lost to a very large luxury car.

I was lucky that day. I learned a lot. For one thing, I learned to stay off of motorcycles. I also learned to look more and make complete stops. I learned that all intersections are dangerous.

A few months after my legs healed and I was only using a cane for support to walk, I could really understand just how lucky I had been that beautiful 5th day of April in 1966.

There used to be many bad intersections in our valley of the Santa Clara River. We have many more cars and people now but not as many bad accidents per capita.

All of this makes little difference to the folks who were injured at the Vasquez Canyon Road connection with Sierra Highway. Young Master Ryan still has a lot of recovery to walk and be normal again.

It also doesn’t help the family that lost the motorcycle rider at the same place. It does tell us all to be careful. Defensive driving is required.

You can’t be in your best defensive driving mode if you like to text at the same time. Maybe you like to talk on the phone with or without a Bluetooth connection and drive. Still some little distraction in the conversation could cause you to miss the change in the stoplight.

RyanrutledgeAll I know is that a friend of mine has a grandson who is in the hospital with family all around. Prayer has helped a lot, and more is needed. Ryan will be OK. Good doctors and nurses, love of family and friends and prayer are what will help the most.

So don’t be afraid. Pray for Ryan and for all of those who have found an intersection that isn’t quite as safe as it should be.

Maybe the intersection isn’t on a road. Our lives have intersections along our pathways all the time. Whatever path we decide to walk, we should always remember to pray. I do it to improve my contact with the God of my understanding. I pray for knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry it out each and every day.

Today was for Ryan. That is why I’m writing this right now.

More prayers, please. It is good for Ryan, and it is good for you, too. Prayer is a nice habit to nurture. Try it. You’ll like it.

 

Darryl Manzer grew up in the Pico Canyon oil town of Mentryville in the 1960s and attended Hart High School. After a career in the U.S. Navy he returned to live in the Santa Clarita Valley, where he serves as executive director of the SCV Historical Society. He can be reached at dmanzer@scvhistory.com. His older commentaries are archived atDManzer.com; his newer commentaries can be accessed [here]. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].
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57 Comments

  1. JC says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Please! I am begging you all to not look at your phone while driving. PLEASE!!!!! It will ruin your and your families’ lives. PLEASE!

    Reply
    • Theresa Traylor says:
      Tuesday, Sep 8, 2015 at

      Nobody was on their phone. I know the driver of the other car and he never saw the other car due to a large UPS truck that was blocking his view. If you know that intersection, it makes sense. Why don’t you, instead of assuming things about a crash and spreading false information about what happened, you should take the time to educate yourself on what happened. He feels awful about it. I hope Ryan makes full recovery❤️

      Reply
  2. Darla Menkee Buff says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Thank you for taking time to remind us, your neighbors. Of the need to slow down and the importance of prayer. We have lived in the Santa Clarita Valley for just under a year. While enjoying the beauty of the Valley and the joy of having my Son’s Family and my beautiful Grandchildren five minutes away, I have noticed speeding cars and horrific accidents. If just a few people slow down and take head to your message, we will be a little bit safer. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. MattandJulie Gares says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    ?

    Reply
  4. Shelley Patterson says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Prayers for Ryan as he heals his little precious body.. I was detoured from his accident & I prayed for them as I was re-routed from Sierra to Vasquez & that Signal needs a Green turn Arrow.. So many accidents & deaths here, very sad…..

    Reply
  5. Ana Dominguez Vander Leek says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    ?????????????????? for Ryan and his family.

    Reply
  6. Kristin Hobbs Gumm says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    I agree! It needs a green arrow but folks need to realize that they need extra time when driving during busy times. People’s lives matter. The SCV is filled with accidents it seems, because everyone is in such a hurry.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    ??????

    Reply
  8. Michelle Mccarthy says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Worth the wait to save a life ???????

    Reply
  9. Denise Haffner says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    I never go that way. May save a few minutes but it’s too dangerous. ?

    Reply
  10. Kathy Allie says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    So well said……praying for this young man and his family.

    Reply
  11. Kayla Creamer says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    ….I’m the driver of the car that got hit & there was no yellow light and he wasn’t turning from Vasquez, so this is post is a little irrelevant to our accident. He failed to yield making the left ONTO Vasquez from Sierra highway as I was going already up to the intersection. Something needs to be done about this whole road and these little traffic lights, I’ve seen too many accidents because people are in a rush to get to wherever is so important, and now my little brother is a victim with a broken back. #prayersforryan

    Reply
    • Liza Uriarte says:
      Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

      So sorry. Praying!

      Reply
    • Bonnie Traylor says:
      Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

      I know the other driver. He feels AWFUL. I can’t stress that enough. Awful. He wasn’t in a rush, just heading home on a route he takes all the time. He never saw you. He was watching a big UPS turning right. Maybe his view was obstructed somewhat by the truck. We are all praying for Ryan. This intersection has been host to other accidents and even fatalities and needs a protected left. I’m so sorry.

      Reply
    • Kayla Creamer says:
      Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

      It was a general statement about accidents happening on that road as a result to people being in a rush. I see people speeding down it in a rush to get to the city every day. It was an accident, and they just happen. Me nor anybody else is blaming him for the outcome of it, no body thinks he woke up that morning saying I’m going to hit and hurt someone. But like you said this intersection and road have caused many accidents fatalities and something must be done to make it safer. I’ve thanked God every day Ryan is still alive. I hope he (the other driver) is ok too, I know he was involved just as much me and my brother.

      Reply
    • Dawn Elder says:
      Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

      Im so sorry I’ll will pray 4ur brother & ur family

      Reply
    • Cassie Schrey says:
      Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

      I’m sorry this happened.. God speed….?

      Reply
    • Robin Cantor- Silver says:
      Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

      We love you Kayla Creamer sending lots of love and prayers

      Reply
  12. Valerie Jacob Haskell says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Prayers for sweet Ryan ♡

    Reply
  13. Anita Pall Leal says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Lots of prayer

    Reply
  14. Kelly Hineson Unger says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    ??

    Reply
  15. Traci English says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    As someone who recently moved from Santa Clarita from another area in So Cal the first thing I noticed was how crazy and fast people drive. Also how ridiculously long it takes for the light to change. Makes for some really bad driving decisions.

    Reply
  16. Roberta Rock says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    _()_

    Reply
  17. Tessa Lucero says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    For many years there wasn’t a light at that intersection at all. The signal was installed after the Northridge quake when so many drivers wanted to use Vasquez as an alternative to the 14 and couldn’t because heavy traffic on Sierra made the left turn from Vasquez to northbound Sierra impossible. Having SCT Line 5 service Sierra up to Vasquez and turn around north of Vasquez also contributed to the decision to install a traffic light at that intersection, I believe.

    I am not sure what the answer is, if there is one. More frequent light cycles, perhaps?

    Reply
  18. Gary Watson says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Except you don’t travel far enough.

    Reply
  19. Bonnie Traylor says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Neither vehicle was turning onto Sierra Hwy. The vehicle was traveling north on Sierra Hwy turning left onto Vasquez. There was a large Ups truck coming south and turning right onto Vasquez. The vehicle with the child was traveling south – he never saw her. I think his view was obstructed by the truck. We NEED a protected left turn there.

    Reply
  20. Mary Barnish Wright says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Poor little guy, just sad! Where is Santa Clarita?

    Reply
  21. James Jennings says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Nothing worse when adults make mistakes and children get hurt. Get well soon

    Reply
  22. Mary Andres says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Prayers ?

    Reply
  23. Elva Espinoza says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Prayers for Ryan!

    Reply
  24. Susie Osuna says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Edel Vizcarra something Mike might have to look into? Or is this city?

    Reply
  25. Rosamaria Franquez says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Amen.We Praying.Blessings

    Reply
  26. Andrea Flores- Lonsinger says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Most lights in SCV should be protected left turn signals … The city should be held responsible for this accident. And several other accidents which have hurt or killed children. The city keeps track of the amount of accidents at intersections though Out SCV. If they feel there are to many accidents at a particular intersection they will add a protected signal. Sad. If they would have already had the protective signal at this intersection that poor little boy would not be suffering right now. Prayers to him and his family.

    Reply
  27. Lisa Michelle Griggs says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Praying for Ryan??

    Reply
  28. Gina Pimentel says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Praying !!!

    Reply
  29. Lisa Bright says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Praying bless his heart. I live close and I m so done with accents there….

    Reply
  30. Mattie Diana Breakfield Hicks says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Praying

    Reply
  31. Deanna Everett says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    My prayers for all involved.

    Reply
  32. Jim Fairbanks says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Kayla I talked to the City about this and talked to Mike Antonovich Field Marshal about the traffic two months ago. 11 accidents on Sierra Hwy in front on COC. Vasquez Canyon and Sierra Highway both my sons where hit head on a couple of years ago and survived cars totaled. City tells me Sheriff Dept says not enough patrol men to cover the whole city. From from Vasquez to college of the canyon over 22 accidents in the last couple of years.

    Reply
    • Kayla Creamer says:
      Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

      We’ve talked to people too, we just moved up on Sierra highway from castaic in April and its ridiculous how many accidents I’ve seen, not to mention all the times I have avoided being hit driving down it. Something needs to be done, our family is considering moving again already because of how dangerous it is. All they say is that there’s nothing really to be done. It’s sad

      Reply
  33. Deanna Di Fabritis says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    ????

    Reply
  34. Elizabeth Calderon says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Prayers

    Reply
  35. Julie Skinner says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Praying for this young man. (Vasquez Sierra is in county, not city)

    Reply
  36. Kimberly Rosier Happel says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    ???

    Reply
  37. Tammy Freeman Block says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    I totally agree.with you Kayla Creamer I so hope that the city of Santa Clarita will do some thing about that intersection. you and your family are in my prayers hope your little brother is doing better

    Reply
  38. Keri Johnston says:
    Monday, Sep 7, 2015 at

    Sweet angel

    Reply
  39. Jen Mavilia Cheeley says:
    Tuesday, Sep 8, 2015 at

    Accidents are unavoidable as we are all not perfect and make mistakes but Distracted driving is a huge problem three days….
    If everyone put
    Their phones away while
    Driving. that may make a bit of a difference!

    Reply
  40. Lisa Mugel-Sendewicz says:
    Tuesday, Sep 8, 2015 at

    My God heal his little body and soul. Get well.

    Reply

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