The Arizona Department of Transportation will re-perform state tests to determine if a crosswalk is warranted along Arizona Highway 80 and Fourth Street where a British couple was killed on Oct. 19, an ADOT information spokeswoman said.

This is the third request by Tombstone city leaders to put a crosswalk along Highway 80 since 2001. ADOT information Spokeswoman Linda Ritter said Bill Harmon, the ADOT Safford district engineer, has been in contact with Mayor Dusty Escapule and Tombstone City Council within the past couple weeks.

“The plan is to do a comprehensive pedestrian safety study which will involve tests for crosswalks, speed limits and we’re going to look at lighting,” Ritter said.  “We are going to be looking at the four different intersections of Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets along Arizona State Route 80 in the next couple weeks.”

Marshal Larry Talvy said poor lighting and the absence of a crosswalk were the two major factors contributing to the accident. The driver of the vehicle was not exceeding the speed limit.

Ritter said the study will not be completed until early next year. When the study is completed, Harmon will meet with Escapule and Tombstone City Council.

“Harmon will present recommendations on how to handle the situation based upon the outcome of the study,” Ritter said.

Tombstone citizens are frustrated that the ADOT still has not put a crosswalk in the area and may be forced to wait for a crosswalk until next year.

“Why do we have to ask for a crosswalk over and over again,” Tombstone resident Mike Kelley said. “If anyone is crossing the street there should be a crosswalk there.”

An arrest has not been made and the name of the truck’s driver has not yet been released. Several people in town identified him as an employee of the Tombstone School District.

Talvy said details of the official incident report will not be released until the end of the week. The marshal’s office is awaiting results from the lab and must conduct one more interview before the report is finished and released.

“We want to make sure we dot all of our ‘I’s’ and cross all of our ‘T’s’.” Talvy said. “We need to go down the list to make sure we have all our bases covered before we release the report.”

The unexpected harsh outcry from the public regarding what punishment the individual should face has concerned Tombstone deputies.

“Because of the controversy of the incident we want to hold off on releasing his personal information until (the investigation) is completed,” Talvy said, “We don’t want him to feel any repercussions from the public.”

The driver of the truck was not arrested and was released at the scene. He remained at the scene of the accident, attempted to perform CPR and cooperated with Deputy Andrea Jackson and Talvy when they arrived.

“Based on the location of the accident, our initial contact with the driver and the witnesses out there we had spoken to, there was no significant violation of the driver,” Talvy said. “We have to accumulate all possible information, put it all together and then see if there is any violation.”

“We must take precautions,” Talvy said, “Based on the rumor mills and how people are reacting we don’t want anything going on to risk his safety.”

Talvy said angry members of the community are trying to show their support by lashing out in an illegal way. Residents are permitted to picket in support of a crosswalk but must not violate ADOT state regulated procedures.

“Local individuals are very discontented with what ADOT has done in the past and we are trying to subdue their emotions and try to not have them overreact to the situation,” Talvy said.

“There have been rumors that locals are going to take matters into their own hands and paint crosswalks in that area,” he said.

“If anyone gets hit in that area and there is not a legal crosswalk (the people who painted the crosswalk) will be charged with a criminal offence or negligent homicide.”

In the upcoming weeks, ADOT will work in conjunction with the marshal’s department to reevaluate the need for a crosswalk.

“Were going to continue to put pressure on the issue to make a crosswalk justifiable,” Talvy said, “We are going to pressure ADOT to put a crosswalk in regardless and we are going to continue to fight this battle until they get tired of us.”

“For me personally, if we have one pedestrian walking across the highway we should have a crosswalk there,” Talvy said, “One life lost is one too many.”