Motorcycle fatality hits troubled Agoura Hills intersection

Drivers believe Kanan, Eagleton not safe



ROADSIDE MEMORIAL—Flowers mark the scene of Sunday’s accident at Kanan Road and Eagleton Street. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

ROADSIDE MEMORIAL—Flowers mark the scene of Sunday’s accident at Kanan Road and Eagleton Street. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the cause of a Sept. 1 traffic fatality at an intersection on Kanan Road in Agoura Hills—the same spot where previous accidents and close calls have been reported.

A 56-year-old male motorcycle rider was killed at around 5:40 p.m. when his bike ran into a Ford Escape automobile at the intersection of the city’s Kanan Road and Eagleton Street.

A female driver of the car, age 50, did not suffer injuries, Sgt. Travis Kelly of the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station said. The motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim, Stephen Richman, is from Oak Park. The woman, whose name was not released, lives in Agoura Hills.

Richman’s motorcycle was traveling north on Kanan when the car entered the intersection from Eagleton and attempted a left turn.

“The preliminary report said he had a green light and she had a red light,” Kelly said. “She turned left in front of him.”

Alcohol was not involved, Kelly said. It’s not known if cellphone usage might have played a role.

Resident Eran Karoly said he wrote an email to city officials in September 2018 complaining of “numerous near-collisions” at the intersection due to what he said is a faulty traffic signal timer.

When an accident occurred at the same intersection in April of this year, Karoly complained again about the traffic signal, this time to the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.

Agoura Hills resident Lori Calabrese, whose car was wrecked in the April accident, said she believes the timing of the light makes it difficult for drivers to safely respond.

“The yellow light is only on for one second. That’s not enough time for someone driving the speed limit to stop,” Calabrese said.

City officials are aware of the troubled intersection.

“Public safety is a top concern of the City Council and staff,” Mayor Linda Northrup said in a statement on Facebook.

“The public works subcommittee of the council is conducting an in-depth study of the traffic issues in the Kanan Road corridor,” Northrup said. “Staff will be out this week assessing conditions in the area where the accident occurred and working with the sheriff on their investigation.”

Rina Nehdar contributed to this story.