Francene Escobar believes a sign posted at the intersection in front of her business on East Yosemite Avenue and Washington Street would solve a lot of traffic-related problems.

“We need a big sign that says, ‘SCHOOL’,” said the owner of Pontes’ Quicki Kleen after the two-car accident Thursday afternoon at this site which involved one of her employees.

The accident sent the 18-year-old passenger of one of the cars to San Joaquin General Hospital for a hip injury that was considered non-life-threatening. The Delta College student is the foster daughter of Amy Navarette of Manteca, who was at the wheel of the car that was eastbound on East Yosemite.

The other driver, Christopher, who is also a student at Delta, was headed south on Washington Street trying to cross Yosemite Avenue. He was on his way home from his job at the convenience store when the accident happened. He said he stopped and waited until it was safe to cross the street. He did not see the other car, he added. The impact caused his car to plow into the support posts in front of the chiropractic clinic on the southeast corner of Yosemite and Washington. Fortunately, it stopped just a few inches from the glass panes of the front windows. The clinic is two doors down from Lincoln Elementary School. The accident happened shortly before 5 p.m. and was hours past the dismissal of students.

In addition to cleaning up the debris caused by the accident, Manteca fire personnel also used their carpentry skills by shoring up the teetering posts. Cost of the damage was unknown as of press time.

Escobar said she believes a big sign to raise the awareness of motorists that there is a school near this intersection will help slow down traffic for the safety of the students. In the morning at the start of school, and in the afternoon at dismissal, students are guided by a crossing guard holding a stop sign as they cross the street.

“I think we need a stop sign. Cars go more than 40 (miles per hour) here,” she noted. Escobar said she saw the accident happen.

An employee at the chiropractic clinic, who declined to give her name, agreed with Escobar about speeding motorists on Yosemite.

“They speed so much, sometimes we feel the vibration in the office,” said the clinic employee who came outside after the accident to offer bottled water to the people involved.