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Orangevale residents desperate for a solution to ‘reckless, dangerous’ neighborhood road

Losing his dog to a hit-and-run accident was the final straw for John Gallico after watching drivers speed by his home on Santa Juanita Avenue for decades.

ORANGEVALE, Calif. — In the Folsom and Orangevale area, the busy residential road of Santa Juanita Avenue is known for speeding and reckless driving.

"We're very saddened by this loss. It just feels like a big gap and a void. He was like a family member to our home," said Orangevale neighbor John Gallico.

It was on that busy, reckless road that Gallico said his dog, Patron, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver. The crash happened right in front of his house and Gallico said he’s had enough.

"Everyone seems to think that you can go 45, 55, 65, 75...it's ridiculous," he said.

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Santa Juanita Avenue is the dividing line between Orangevale and Folsom and Gallico said the 25 mph speed limit is rarely enforced.

"I feel unsafe. I feel like I need to close the gates and never set foot out here unless I'm in a vehicle," he said.

Every neighbor ABC10 spoke with said it's been this way for as long as they can remember.

"No one ever goes 25 mph, including myself. I'm guilty of going, I usually go around 30, 35," said Dave Oji, a neighbor on the Folsom side.

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And Oji said his family takes extra precautions to keep their kids far from the main road.

"My kids know not to go too far down to the end of the street. It's dangerous. Anything could happen," Oji said.

It was his dog this time and Gallico is worried a person, a cyclist, or even a child could be next.

"We've contacted CHP several times about the issue. It doesn't seem like nothing's ever getting done," Gallico said.

And while ABC10 hasn't yet heard back from CHP, Gallico said he'd like to see a change.

"But if we had something, more patrols, more speed limit signs, maybe a stop sign at the end or a four-way stop at the end of Canyon Falls, something will stop this," he said.

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