The outpour of community support following aturned into questions as many residents are calling for better traffic enforcement on Glendora Mountain Road.
On Wednesday afternoon, Glendora Police responded to a grisly scene on Glendora Mountain road near Big Dalton Canyon. A 17-year-old Valinda boy somehow lost control of his Lexus vehicle and crashed into a guard rail and a telephone pole. Peter Mark, 54, and another friend were riding their horses along the side of the road when the out-of-control vehicle slammed into Mark and his horse. The impact sent the two airborne before they landed 30 feet down the street, according to police reports.
Although Mark was airlifted to USC Medical Center, police say he escaped life-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital on Thursday. The young driver and his passengers, as well as the other rider and horse were not injured.
But Sadie, Mark’s mare, was killed.
Police say they are still investigating the accident, however they also ruled out intoxication as a factor.
Mark’s brother, Tom, posted a comment on thanking well-wishers for their support.
“[My brother] is going to be fine,” Mark wrote. “The worst thing about this is he has lost his beloved horse. He spent many hours with her. I hear this is a[n] area that needs the city to make changes, hopefully this accident will change things.”
Today, tire skid marks on Glendora Mountain Road veer right into flower bouquets, carrots and a ribbon that sit against a mangled guard rail, serving as a small monument for the horse lost.
The narrow, winding road with a breathtaking view of the San Gabriel Mountains has been a popular destination for motorists, equestrians, cyclists and joggers for decades.
But questions about the road’s safety continue to persist with each crash or accident along its route.
In January, an . Unck’s sister Autumn said she hoped to see the road closed to motorists following the death of her brother.
“That road is too narrow and too dangerous to share with other cars,” said Miss Unck.
Wednesday’s accident was a rallying cry for nearby residents and road enthusiasts to call for city action against speeding cars along the road.
“I used to ride up to the top [of Glendora Mountain Road], and look down at all the car racing on the road below,” said Glendora resident and equestrian Beth Glover. “It is crazy! There have been so many deaths up there… So I guess recreational users are stuck on the race course that is up there.”
However, only a small portion of the road is actually in city jurisdiction.
According to Lt. Rob Lamborghini, the city is only responsible for the road a half-mile up to Big Dalton Canyon Road. The rest is up to Los Angeles County, said Lamborghini.
“In the years I’ve worked in Glendora, there have always been accidents on that road,” said Lamborghini. “But there’s not much we can do to stop that.”
He said most accidents that occur on Glendora Mountain Road are caused by motorists from out of town who are unfamiliar with traversing the steep, tight corners of the road.
He did acknowledge that speeding and street racing are a common occurrence on the road. But since most of the road lies in county land, California Highway Patrol is responsible for speed enforcement on the road.
CHP officers are constantly detailing Glendora Mountain Road for speeding motorists, said CHP spokesperson Carrie Rivas.
Before Wednesday’s accident she said there had been four motor accidents in the past year in the section of the road where collision took place.
Still, residents are hoping local law enforcement will increase efforts in curbing the dangers on Glendora Mountain Road.
“Mark my words, it will happen again and again,” said Glover. “I tell my kids all the time, ‘Don't drive up there with anyone!’”
