City Removes Vigilante Speed Bump

City workers have removed an unauthorized speed bump described by one official as “vigilante justice” in a neighborhood fed up with speeders.

Residents of Wabash Avenue have been complaining to the city about people driving too fast when using the residential street as a bypass for congestion on Crater Lake Avenue.

On Sunday morning, a 20-foot lump of cold asphalt appeared in front of the home of Virginia Moran, who has lived on Wabash for 40 years.

“It looked like a real professional job,” she said.

An unidentified motorist complained to the city Sunday night that he had hurt his neck and damaged his vehicle driving over the speed bump at an unknown speed. On Monday, city workers removed it.

Police are investigating, because installation of a speed bump without authority is criminal mischief, said Lt. Ron Norris.

“It looks like it was done by someone who pretty much knew what they were doing,” said Jerry Montgomery, a city maintenance superintendent. “This is nothing but vigilante justice.”

City manager Andy Anderson said speed humps - which are wider and lower than speed bumps - could be installed, but they also slow down ambulances and fire trucks. The City Council will study the issue next month.

The city’s response left Wabash resident Mark Morgan frustrated.

“It takes six months to get a pothole filled, but less than 24 hours for them to remove something that may do some good - slow speeders down,” he said.