ANN ARBOR, MI – An 88-year-old Ann Arbor man had to step over a snow ridge left by a city plow truck just before he slipped on ice and fell, costing his life, his friends said.

In the aftermath of Richard Derick’s fatal fall at a crosswalk ramp along Division Street, some residents are questioning who’s responsible for clearing such ridges, which can become icy and impede crosswalk accessibility and safety.

“According to code, adjacent property owners are responsible for crosswalk ramps, as well as sidewalks and bus stops,” said city spokesman Robert Kellar.

“Just as they are responsible for snow that gets moved onto sidewalks from plows, the same is true for snow moved onto crosswalk ramps,” Kellar said. “The only exception is islands, which we clear.”

The city didn’t have an immediate answer as to whether a crosswalk-impeding snow ridge at the edge of the street —but not actually pushed up on the crosswalk ramp — is still an adjacent property owner’s responsibility to clear.

While removing such obstructions would be a neighborly courtesy, there appears to be no mention of the city’s expectations for such cases in the city’s ordinance.

UPDATE: Kellar said the city won’t enforce against property owners if the snow isn’t on the crosswalk ramp. “However, that shouldn’t lead people to believe they can push snow off the crosswalk ramp or sidewalk into the street,” he said.

A city of Ann Arbor snow plow truck on Jan. 19, 2019.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Derick, who lived on High Street just north of downtown, was with his dog Sammy on Jan. 22, returning from their daily walk to Sweetwaters coffee shop in Kerrytown, when he slipped at a crosswalk ramp on Division near Detroit Street and died hours later from a “brain bleed,” his friends said. As of last week, his caretaker was looking after his dog.

Derick’s death has prompted discussion among city officials and residents about the importance of keeping sidewalks and crosswalk ramps clear of ice and snow.

Ann Arbor attorney Mike Shelton said the Jan. 22 fall happened at the crosswalk in front of his law office and he ran to help Derick, who was a client of his.

There was a buildup of snow “from where the plows throw it all,” Shelton said, adding that’s where Derick fell.

It’s not entirely clear to what extent the snow ridge played a role in Derick losing his balance.

Derick’s longtime friend Vicky Henry, who was with him at the hospital afterward, said Derick was able to explain to her how he fell. He had just crossed Division Street in the crosswalk, walking faster than usual because another pedestrian started to cross and cars were stopped for them.

“From the city having plowed, there was a high ridge that went up to a point of snow that one would have to step over to get onto the rest of the curb cut to go up to the sidewalk,” she said, adding Derrick said he stepped over that and hit ice.

The crosswalk ramp was clear of snow, Henry said, but she suspects because it was a sunny day some snow may have melted and formed ice by the ridge.

If there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that there should be better protocols for ensuring sidewalks and crosswalks are safe in the winter, Henry said.

She thinks the city should implement a citywide service similar to SnowBuddy in the Water Hill neighborhood, where residents have pooled their money to fund a sidewalk/crosswalk snow plow service.

City ordinance gives individual property owners and residents deadlines for clearing sidewalks of ice and snow.

For residential properties, snow accumulations of more than one inch must be cleared from adjacent sidewalks, bus stop walks and crosswalk ramps within 24 hours, and ice must be treated with sand, salt or another substance within 18 hours.

For non-residential properties, snow and ice that accumulates by 6 a.m. must be removed from adjacent sidewalks, bus stop walks and crosswalk ramps before noon the same day​.​

City officials encourage residents to report violations using the A2 Fix It mobile app or by calling 734-794-6942.

Residents and property owners who don’t follow the rules get one warning per season before incurring penalty fines.​​​​

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