header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 29
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys


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].

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

57 Comments

  1. JC says:

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

    • Theresa Traylor says:

      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❤️

  2. Darla Menkee Buff says:

    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.

  3. 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…..

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

  5. 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.

  6. Anonymous says:

    ??????

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

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

  9. Kathy Allie says:

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

  10. ….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

    • Liza Uriarte Liza Uriarte says:

      So sorry. Praying!

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • Dawn Elder Dawn Elder says:

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

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

    • We love you Kayla Creamer sending lots of love and prayers

  11. Prayers for sweet Ryan ♡

  12. 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.

  13. Tessa Lucero says:

    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?

  14. Gary Watson Gary Watson says:

    Except you don’t travel far enough.

  15. 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.

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

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

  18. Susie Osuna Susie Osuna says:

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

  19. Amen.We Praying.Blessings

  20. 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.

  21. Lisa Bright Lisa Bright says:

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

  22. My prayers for all involved.

  23. 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.

    • 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

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

  25. 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

  26. 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!

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

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Did you know that each year, Main Street in Old Town Newhall undergoes countless makeovers for different events, such as Light Up Main Street and the Fourth of July Parade?
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District includes the Santa Clarita Valley, issued the following statement Thursday in response to an announcement by Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel of a proposal to change how calls to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are routed.
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
Unlike our children who enjoy a week-long spring break, we adults no longer have that luxury.
Friday, Mar 15, 2024

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
SCVNews.com