Fatal Crash, Blamed On Speed, Renews Concerns Of Local Pastor
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pastor Raymond Parker, of the Zion Church of God and Christ in Homewood, says he thinks more steps have to be taken to slow down drivers on Frankstown Avenue.
A man was killed along the stretch early Thursday morning in a rollover crash.
Pittsburgh Police say 28-year-old Leon Spearman III was killed when the Jetta he was driving hit a curb and a utility pole, and then slammed into a convenience store in the 8300-block of Frankstown Avenue.
Investigators said Spearman, a former Marine Reserve sergeant who did a tour in Afghanistan, was the only one in the car at the time of the accident.
The crash took place in the same spot where a 22-year old man, Leon Ford, lost control of his car, struck a utility pole, and ended up beside the same building.
Pastor Parker says the speed limit in that stretch of Franktown Avenue is 25 miles an hour, but "drivers fly up and down the road, and need to slow down."
Parker told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "On Sundays, we have to watch and take care of seniors getting in and out of their cars [because of drivers going by too fast]."
He also expressed concerns about kids going to school.
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Homewood resident Kenny Carroll said, "Late at night, drivers fly through this area, if somebody tries to cross the street, they don't have a chance."
"Maybe another traffic light, or a speed bump or two would serve to slow down some of the problem speeders," Pastor Parker added.