Accident damages traffic light Tuesday

Damage was reported to a power box that controls a traffic signal near Wal-Mart following a two-vehicle accident Tuesday, according to the Jamestown Police De-partment.

The accident happened at 10:03 a.m. at the intersection of 25th Street Southwest and U.S. Highway 281 South

Vitres Peter Ficek, 90, Valley City, was westbound in a car on 25th Street Southwest entering the intersection with Highway 281 South. He told police he didn’t see the traffic signal, entered the intersection and struck a southbound pickup driven by Norman E. Miller, 67, Gackle, N.D.

Miller said the north/ south traffic signals were green when he entered the intersection, pulling a goose-neck trailer, and tried to avoid colliding with the 2000 Buick driven by Ficek.

The collision sent the Ford pickup in the southwest ditch between the traffic signal post and two power boxes. Dave Donegan, chief of police, said the trailer on the pickup apparently hit the power box that controlled the traffic signal.

No injuries to the driver or Ficek’s passenger, Christine Ficek, 91, Valley City, were reported. Seat belt use by all was unknown, according to the report.

Damage was estimated at $4,000 to the Buick driven by Ficek, $2,500 to the 1984 Ford pickup driven by Miller and at least $20,000 to the signal equipment. However, Donegan said he believed the damage estimate to the signal equipment could increase.

Stop signs were placed at the location until the traffic signal equipment is repaired.

Ficek cited for disobeying steady red signal.

Tags: accident, traffic, light