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It might not be safe for pedestrians to cross Rio Grande Street along the half-mile stretch between Laurent and Ben Jordan streets, but they often do.

Ora Garley was trying to make that crossing Wednesday night when a red Pontiac sedan struck her, Victoria Police Officer Shane Wallace said.

The 62-year-old Victoria resident remains in critical condition at Citizens Medical Center, spokeswoman Shannon Spree said.

A 62-year-old woman driving was not ticketed, because Garley crossed in front of H-E-B, not at an intersection, Wallace said.

“Nothing she did was wrong,”Wallace said of the driver.

There have been several cases of walkers or bike riders getting hit while crossing Rio Grande Street mid-block, Wallace said.

“People are misjudging how far cars are and how fast they’re going,” Wallace said.

Cars roll down Rio Grande Street, past the H-E-B almost without a break. When the light at Laurent Street stops the two eastbound lanes, the westbound lanes seem filled with a constant stream of traffic.

Garley tried to walk south – toward the supermarket – at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Wallace said. At night, it can be even harder for drivers to see people walking there, because there aren’t street lights.

The best way for walkers to avoid similar accidents is to cross at intersections, Lt. Lillian Alex said.

“Pedestrians have to obey the traffic laws,” Alex said.

Even if the person is on foot and has the right of way, it’s best to be wary of cars, Alex said.

“Cars are bigger than you are. You have to be cautious,” Alex said. “Even if legally you have the right of way, if you are hit it doesn’t really matter.”

Both Laurent and Ben Jordan streets have traffic signals at Rio Grand Street. At Ben Jordan, a crosswalk is painted on the road and there is a signal for pedestrians.

The pedestrian signal was added in 2004, as part of the Ben Jordan reconstruction project, said Lynn Short, the city’s public works director.

The intersection of Laurent and Rio Grande streets will likely have a similar signal when improvements there are finished in 2009, Short said.

“Those are installed now when traffic signals are replaced,” he said.

Leslie Wilber is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6521 or e-mail her at lwilber@vicad.com