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GRANTS PASS Death illustrates dangers along Redwood Avenue, residents say Comment By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 12:01 AM By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News Acquaintances of Les Collins, a 64-year-old man who was killed while crossing the street in front of the Cedarwood Saloon Saturday evening, remembered him as a "good man" and voiced concerns about the dangerous stretch of Redwood Avenue where he lost his life. Collins was a regular at the Pine Tree Tavern and the Cedarwood, which are on opposite sides of Redwood Avenue near Redwood Circle, west of Allen Creek Road. Luzon Whorton, another patron at the Pine Tree, described Collins as a large man who walked with a cane. "He would come over here with his cane and a few of his friends that had walkers, and we'd open the doors for them," she said. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Saturday, after stopping in at the Pine Tree, Collins decided he wanted to head over to the Cedarwood, so the bartender asked another patron to help him cross the street, Whorton said. There is no crosswalk and little lighting at that spot, and Whorton said the patron managed to stop westbound traffic for Collins — but as he walked in the eastbound lane he was struck by an SUV. He died at the scene.  Police said the car that hit Collins was driven by a 17-year-old boy. The teen was not injured, and he cooperated with investigators. Police found no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident, which shut down Redwood Avenue for about 2½ hours. Whorton is upset that there isn't a safer way for people to cross the street in that spot, especially since there are a number of seniors and people with limited mobility who live at a complex on Redwood Circle, near the intersection. Collins resided in an independent-living section of the complex called Emeritus at The Springs. There is also an assisted-living facility and a residential facility for those with memory-related ailments such as Alzheimer's disease. "There's no lights, there's no crosswalk. There should be for these folks," Whorton said. She called Collins a "heck of a nice man." Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic said a three-phase project is in the works to make Redwood Avenue safer. In the first phase, which is already completed, improvements were made from Redwood Circle west to Dowell Road. The second phase will focus on the stretch between Dowell Road and Darneille Lane. The third phase will target the part of Redwood Avenue where Collins died. Phase 3 is in the early design stages, and construction work is projected to begin in 2016. Current estimates, which Haugen said are very preliminary, indicate that the project will cost about $1.2 million. Reach Daily Courier reporter Melissa McRobbie at 541-474-3806 or [email protected]   By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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