Police: Fatal Crash Not Caused by Flashing Yellow Arrow

TYLER — The police investigation of the fatal crash that occurred at Broadway and Independence on May 10 has found that the accident had no link to the flashing yellow traffic signal in place at the intersection. The Tyler Police Department has released the audio interview with the driver of the 2008 Chevrolet Impala four-door involved in the crash, Helen Turner from Lindale. �The audio interview with Mrs. Turner clearly reveals that she understood what she was to do at the signal,� said Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle. �She looked, felt she had time to make the turn, and proceeded through the intersection. She then felt the impact of the motorcycle striking her vehicle.�

According to authorities, Mrs. Turner’s vehicle was involved in the fatal accident in which she failed to yield the right-of-way while turning left. Kendrick Clark was operating a 2008 Kawasaki Motorcycle and stuck Mrs. Turner�s vehicle. Mr. Clark died as a result of the accident. The case will now be submitted to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office for presentation to a Smith County Grand Jury.

City officials say since 2008, 40 flashing yellow arrow signals (FYA) have been installed by the City in an effort to improve traffic progression in the City following the results of the Tyler 21 planning process that showed traffic was the number one concern for Tyler citizens. The determination was made to use this type of device following a seven year study by the Federal Highway Safety Administration that showed that FYAs were safer than a permissive green ball. The Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices includes these signals as an approved traffic control device, and their use has grown significantly across the nation in the last two years. Preliminary studies conducted by the City of Tyler Traffic Engineering Department on the intersections where the first 14 FYAs were installed shows that crashes have decreased by eight percent overall.