Grand Jury Calls Friant and Shepherd Fresno’s Most Dangerous Intersection, Demands City Response

The Fresno County Civil Grand Jury has named the intersection of Friant Road and Shepherd Avenue the most dangerous in Fresno, calling for changes that go beyond what city officials already planned.

A Grand Jury report studying the intersection for nearly a year found that more than 80% of incidents there were caused by drivers running red lights. The report, titled “Intersection of Friant and Shepherd AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN, AGAIN!!,” recommends 11 changes aimed at improving safety.

“They need to do something about it. It’s clearly a problem,” said James Haring, a neighbor who has lived in Fresno for 79 years.

Between February and March of this year, two collisions occurred at the intersection within three days of each other. One crash sent a car flying through the intersection into Woodward Park, killing a woman.

Shortly after those incidents, Fresno city officials announced a $2.5 million project to make changes to the intersection. But county leaders said they considered those planned changes and still believe more should be done.

The Breakdown

• The primary issue: northbound traffic on Friant impeding westbound traffic from Shepherd turning southbound onto Friant
• The slight left-hand curve on Friant doesn’t allow drivers approaching Shepherd to see the intersection and all stop lights until 280 yards out
• The Grand Jury recommends additional signage, increased police presence, and more flashing lights to warn drivers
• “There is agreement from all parties that increased police presence and enforcement activities would lead to a decrease in accidents and incidents for this intersection,” the report reads
• City officials must respond to the Grand Jury’s 11 recommendations within 90 days

What This Means for You

The Fresno County Civil Grand Jury is pressing city officials for a public accounting of what they’ll actually do about an intersection where people have been hurt and killed. The 90-day response deadline requires the city to state whether it plans to implement the full slate of recommendations or stick with only the $2.5 million project already announced.

What to Watch

County leaders have said they considered the city’s planned changes and still believe more should be done. City officials must respond to the Grand Jury’s 11 recommendations within 90 days. The Grand Jury identified the curve on Friant that prevents drivers from seeing the lights until 280 yards out, and recommended additional signage, increased police presence, and more flashing lights.