Hit-and-run death of James Hanson prompts community action

BAY VIEW, Wis. (CBS 58) -- People in the Bay View community of Milwaukee are calling for change after a hit and run driver killed a popular bartender walking her dogs.

James Hanson was run down near Dover and Howell on Christmas Eve.

City engineers presented recommendations for the area during a meeting at Humboldt Park Pavilion Tuesday.

The plans included adding bike lanes in order to narrow the space cars had to drive.

The engineers said it’s been proven that wider lanes lead to faster driving.

They also proposed more crosswalks and lower speed limits.

Neighbors at the meeting urged the city officials to go further.

“We’ve had accidents in front of our house where they hit the light pole, then it comes down on their cars,” said Ellen Serdynski, who lives across the street from where Hanson was hit.

Becky Baumgartner says she watches from her home as people fly down Howell and slam on the brakes.

Alderman Tony Zielinski, who represents the district, says half a dozen traffic studies have been conducted on Howell in the last ten years.

He says he’s behind the engineers’ recommendations 110 percent.

Manuel Salazar Gutierrez has been charged in Hanson’s death, but has yet to be caught.