With Albert Street closed for paving all the downtown traffic is being routed through East and West Canals where narrow streets, parked cars, and sharp turns are a recipe for vehicular bumps and bruises. And that’s just what happened this afternoon around 3 pm. Avelio Rodriquez was driving his Jeep Cherokee on West Canal when he was bumped in the rear by a black Ford Escort driven by Travis Simpson. No one was hurt but Rodriguez’s jeep came dangerously close to entering Ursula Baptist’s home. Here’s her outrage but first Rodriquez’s explanation.
Avelio Rodriguez, Driver
“I don’t know who but we bucked right there and I tried to cut away from him as much as possible, you could see that I tried to cut as much as possible from he but it
still…”
Keith Swift,
So he bumped you into the house?
Avelio Rodriguez,
“Yes we bumped into one another.”
Keith Swift,
Who was in the wrong?
Avelio Rodriguez,
“Well boy I don’t really know because I stopped there and I moved off. I stopped at the sign and I moved off and then I saw him come. You see how far he deh. The police will determine who is wrong or what but that is the way how I see it.”
Ursula Baptist, Home Owner
“Normally these hours I go to pick up my little girl from school so when I came back I find this vehicle like this, which in I always expected this because don’t even respect the sign. This is the thing I expected to happen.”
Keith Swift,
Was there any damage to your house?
Ursula Baptist,
“No not really. I don’t see nothing happen to it.”
Keith Swift,
But if you were home you have young kids noh?
Ursula Baptist,
“And normally that same area where the vehicle is, that’s where I normally sit every evening and today I just took my time going to school and I came back late and I normally go and come back fast but today I took my time going to school and I came back home late and came in and found this.”
Rodriquez’s Jeep received minor dents to the bumper while Travis Simpson’s Escort received considerable damage to the right passenger side.
And so if you plan to drive in the downtown area there are street closures you need to be aware of. Tomorrow and Friday Albert Street between Dean Street will be closed, Saturday and Sunday it will be the area of south to King Streets, Wednesday and Thursday of next week it will be the area between King Street and Market Square. The paving is scheduled to begin on Sunday December 14th and should conclude on Friday December 19th.
