Several pedestrians say they feel ‘unsafe’ on Clark Lane

Several pedestrians walking along Clark Lane said they feel “unsafe” Tuesday, the day after a teenager was hit and killed while walking along the road.

Battle High School student Claudine Nibigira, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene Monday night after a vehicle hit her while she was walking in the 3600 Block of Clark Lane.

Ramon Roberson, a bus driver who walks to work along a stretch of Clark Lane, said while he only walks less than a quarter-mile, he still feels unsafe.

“There’s a lot of restaurants here, so they pull out into Clark Lane,” Roberson said. “They’re eating, they’ve got food, they’ve got drinks … there’s always something going on besides just driving in this area.

“There should be more lights and more sidewalks in this area you know,” Roberson said. “You walk down (Clark Lane), it actually gets really dark.”

Columbia Public Works spokesman Barry Dalton said no improvements are currently planned for Clark Lane.

Dalton said local officials are considering major improvements along Clark Lane, which would be included on the next capital improvement sales tax project list in 2025.