Rockford residents are urging motorists to be careful at dangerous intersections

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – The area around Forest Hills Road and Pleasant Valley Boulevard sees an alarming number of fatal accidents each year, including the tragedy that took the life of a two-year-old child Wednesday evening.

The intersection of Pleasant Valley and Forest Hills.(WIFR)

In a 2022 report, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) found that fourteen people died in Rockford in 2022 due to traffic accidents. This data includes 69 year olds Brenda Fultz who died in a head-on collision at the same intersection.

Lois Moore has lived near Forest Hills and Pleasant Valley for seven years. During that time, she says she came to view it as a high-risk area, especially between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., when employees from nearby businesses go away for the day.

“They’re going about 40 to 45 miles per hour, or faster if they’re speeding,” Moore says. “So it can be very unsafe.”

One traffic light is located a short distance from the intersection near the Keurig Dr Pepper building. Another directs traffic to River Lane. Neighbors say these lights don’t do enough.

Grace Family Church overlooks the intersection on Pleasant Valley Boulevard. Pastor Keith Manley says serious accidents have happened regularly over the past 15 years. There was even an incident not too long ago involving a church member where the ladies’ group stepped in to help the crash victims.

“I would love it if they would consider putting a traffic light there,” said Pastor Manley. “I think it would be a good thing. You know, they get off work there, there’s a lot of traffic coming out and sometimes that can be the time of day when things happen.

A hubcap on the side of the road near Pleasant Valley Boulevard.(WIFR)

Moore adds, saying, “There’s no other traffic light holding up traffic until you get to Pepper, but if they know there are a lot of accidents, it seems like it could be used.”

IDOT also reports that more than 4,900 passenger vehicle incidents occurred in Rockford in 2022. Moore’s message to drivers is: “Be careful.”

‘Be careful. You can see the traffic coming from the north, but if you come from the south it’s not as easy to see,” Moore said. “We’re on that side of the street, so it’s hard to see him coming from the left.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 8,600 people died in car crashes nationwide in the first three months of 2024.