Some NW Bend residents want four-way stop at intersection

Some residents living on Bend’s Westside want the city to do something about the intersection at Northwest Portland Avenue and 11th Street to make it safer for drivers after a crash sent Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel to the hospital.

Joe Hovorka lives near the intersection and sees drivers speeding around his neighborhood and motorist running the stop sign.

“I see cars run it daily,” he said Tuesday.

Hovorka said it doesn’t matter what time of the day, there is always someone not following the rules of the road.

“Collisions happen there all the time. Aa lot of the times, they’re just fender benders,” Hovorka said.

Broken glass and street markings are still visible near the intersection where Hummel’s car was T-boned by another driver who police said admitted running a stop sign.

Hummel suffered cracked ribs and a cracked pelvis, and was admitted to St. Charles Bend. He has since been released.

The driver of the white Suburban was cited for running the stop sign.

Bend police said there was only one in 2015, and so far in 2016 there have been two reported crashes.

The city said staff look at many factors before putting in a stop sign.

Director of Growth Management Nick Arnis said most of Northwest Portland Avenue does have four-way stops, but the intersection with 11th Street doesn’t because icy, steep roads in the winter make it difficult for drivers to stop at the intersection.

Arnis said the city is working on its second-phase planning of the Westside Project and will be looking at Portland Avenue to see if a sign is needed at the intersection.