A sign hangs over a new crosswalk on North Decatur Boulevard between Vegas Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard Monday, April 8, 2013. The crosswalk is dedicated to Doris Stoehr, a resident of Las Vegas Manor senior complex, who was killed crossing the boulevard in February.
Monday, April 8, 2013 | 5:46 p.m.
She had campaigned for a crosswalk on this stretch of Decatur Boulevard for at least a year.
The unsettling speeds of passing cars and the inconveniently placed crosswalks for the seniors living in the nearby apartment complex prompted her to speak out.
But before a $100,000 project for the crossing could be completed, Doris Stoehr was hit by a car and killed on the same stretch of road.
The 83-year-old died Jan. 10 while crossing the street across from her home at Las Vegas Manor, 1700 North Decatur Blvd.
On Monday, she was remembered when the crosswalk bearing her name had its ceremonial opening.
As her son, Brian Stoehr said, the former Peace Corps nurse just wanted to help people.
“It wasn’t about getting recognition. She liked getting her hands dirty,” he said. “For a small woman, she was huge in stature.”
More than a dozen of Doris Stoehr’s family members attended the dedication.
“This is proof you can get things done when you get together,” Brian Stoehr said. “Everybody has to watch out for everybody.”
The crosswalk will be a boon to the 244 residents who live at Las Vegas Manor, an apartment complex that caters to older, sometimes disabled residents.
Las Vegas City Councilman Ricki Y. Barlow, who represents Ward 5 said the crosswalk was “a collaborative effort on many fronts. We want to stress pedestrian safety.”
Las Vegas has seen 37 traffic-related fatalities this year.
Barlow said most crosswalks are built at the request of residents, and the locations are chosen by city engineers on a case-by-case basis.
After Stoehr’s death, her friend Sunny Ferrari sent an email to Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman to urge that the project be completed.
Three month later, it was done.
“We know it’s not going to stop pedestrian fatalities,” Ferrari said. “But it will make a big difference.”
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