Neighbors have long viewed the hilly stretch of Figueroa Street that winds through Highland Park as a deadly speedway. Cars racing downtown from Pasadena and Eagle Rock barrel along the curving street, flying past children walking to the nearby elementary school.
Residents have begged in vain for a traffic signal or stop sign, warning city officials that the busy thoroughfare could take someone's life.
On Friday, a car speeding down the road swerved to avoid another vehicle, jumped a curb and plowed into a group of young children eating ice cream cones on the corner. Matthew Ruiz, 6, died moments later in his mother's arms. Four other children were injured.
In the wake of the accident, Highland Park residents and City Councilman Richard Alatorre renewed their requests Tuesday for the city Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal along the busy corridor.
Transportation officials have denied Alatorre's past requests for a signal on Figueroa, saying the street doesn't have enough traffic volume to meet the national guidelines for a traffic light.
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"However, in light of what happened, we'll go back and revisit the issue," said Jim Sherman, principal transportation engineer at the Department of Transportation. "Maybe there's other measures we can take."
Alatorre vowed Tuesday, "This time, I'm not going to take no for an answer. This cost a human life, and it's not acceptable." Alatorre said he has requested a traffic signal along Figueroa at least twice in the last few years. Two months ago, the Transportation Department turned down his request for a light a block north of the crash site, citing insufficient traffic and accidents to qualify the street for a signal.
The parents of the children expressed skepticism that the city would help.
"Nothing's going to happen," said Gloria Estrada, Matthew's mother. "But I don't care what it takes. I'm coming out here with my paint and homemade banners, and I'll make crosswalks so people have to slow down. No more children should die."
The deadly crash Friday evening happened in front of the Estradas' second-floor apartment at Figueroa and Crestwood Way.
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Matthew and several other neighborhood children were tearing the wrappers off ice cream cones when a Chevrolet Camaro driven by Gabino Nunez Avila, 20, swerved to avoid another car and ran onto the sidewalk, police said. The car slammed into the children and crashed into a tree. Estrada raced out of the apartment and cradled Matthew in her arms, desperately trying to find his heartbeat. He died before paramedics arrived.
