Can DIY save lives? After fatal bike crash, Carlsbad locals act first. (Copy) (Copy)

 Can DIY save lives? After fatal bike crash, Carlsbad locals act first.

 
Bob Embree speaking to Carlsbad city council after a traffic collision that killed his wife Christine Hawk Embree

CARLSBAD, Calif. —  What does it take to see immediate responses to deadly street designs? Are two deaths in one month enough? What about a 233% rise in car crashes? Carlsbad even declared a local state of emergency and freed $2M for traffic concerns, but residents are still waiting for results. After years of asking for safer streets, Carlsbad residents are taking matters into their own hands.

On Friday, January 19th at 9:15 am PST, Carlsbad will co-host a Crash Analysis Studio, an online workshop that presents a new approach for analyzing fatal car crashes.

Following the tragic death of 35-year-old Christine Hawk Embree in August of 2022, a concerned local reached out to Strong Towns, a national non-profit, to help them take action. Even more infuriating, Bob Embree was in front of Carlsbad’s city council 19 days before his wife was killed, asking for action to address safety concerns after another car crash occurred on his street.

“I don’t want anyone else to suffer how I’ve suffered. We were supposed to live 40 more years together. We were supposed to grow old and gray. Please don’t let my wife’s loss of life go in vain.”  - Bob Embree, Husband and Carlsbad resident

Crash Analysis Studio attendees will hear from a panel of local and national experts, including Pete Penseyres, the Carlsbad Traffic Safety & Mobility Commissioner. Together, they’ll evaluate the intersection of Valley Street and Basswood Avenue, uncovering safety measures they can take now.

Where police investigations and insurance evaluations find fault and move on, a Crash Analysis Studio presents a more humane framework that asks, “Are we building unsafe conditions?” After the discussion, Strong Towns will provide a final report with the crash facts, the analysis of contributing factors, and recommendations for safety improvements.

This marks the 13th Crash Analysis Studio session. The online event is open to the public, and residents of Carlsbad and safety advocates across the US are encouraged to attend.

Register for the Carlsbad Crash Analysis Studio at strongtowns.org/crash-studio.

For media inquiries and follow-up reports, contact:

Karen Douglas — Public Relations
karen@strongtowns.org
844-218-1681


Press Contact:

Karen Douglas
karen@strongtowns.org
844-218-1681


Published January 12, 2024