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Riders call intersection a 'death trap'

Posted at 10:45 PM, Nov 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-29 02:23:55-05
Motorcycle riders are demanding changes at the intersection of Rainbow Boulevard and Oquendo Road.
 
They say you can’t tell where the road ends and the sidewalk begins.
 
A Marine rider says It is the reason he ended up in the hospital for more than a week and rehab for another two.
 
"I'm just riding along and next thing you know I'm waking up with somebody standing over top of me," Leroy Benavidez said.
 
Two months later, Benavidez is still recovering from the accident that crippled his bike and left him with a laundry list of injuries.
 
While he is beginning to heal, the Marine veteran says his anger is growing after driving by the intersection of Rainbow Boulevard and Oquendo Road over the weekend. 
 
"The cones and barrels put there after my accident are now gone again. So the next guy coming down through there riding again can't see it. It makes you angry," Benavidez said.
 
Other motorcycle riders are now demanding action in a Facebook video that was seen more than 7,000 times in one day.
 
Benavidez says it highlights the problem that led to his crash.
 
He says riding north on Rainbow, he could clearly see the gravel, but couldn't make out the curb he now knows separates the road and the asphalt sidewalk along side it.
 
"You are still in a lane with no markings when you get to the other side and you are cruising down the road and you can't see the sidewalk," Benavidez said.
 
Benavidez says a simple change could prevent another devastating accident like his.
 
"How much time does it take to put a barrel or a flashing light?" Benavidez said.
 
When 13 Action News reached out to Clark County about the issue with the intersection we were told they would look into the issue.
 
A call to the contractor in charge of road work being done in the area was not returned Monday afternoon.