HANFORD, CA – A growing number of residents and business owners are raising alarms about the dangerous conditions at the intersection of 4th and Phillips in Hanford. Many say that poor visibility, caused in large part by a tall fence at Little Worley’s Auto and parked vehicles positioned within the line of sight, is making the area a serious traffic hazard.

Drivers trying to cross or turn at the intersection are frequently forced to pull dangerously far into the road just to see if traffic is coming. The issue becomes especially hazardous during peak hours, when more vehicles are traveling through the area and the risk of a collision increases significantly.

Local business owners near the intersection say the problem is not new. According to one owner, who operates a business just feet away from the corner, close calls happen on a near-daily basis. He estimates seeing five or six near-miss incidents every single day. Another business owner recounted a serious accident that occurred in full view of his shop. At first, he feared the worst for the female driver involved in the crash. Fortunately, both she and the man driving the other vehicle survived.

One business owner put it bluntly: “It’s just too risky. You see people inching out into the street because they simply can’t see what’s coming. That’s not how it should be at a public intersection. Something needs to change.”

While covering the situation firsthand, I personally observed three near-miss incidents within a 30-minute span. In each case, drivers were forced to edge forward well past the stop sign just to get a clear view of traffic. The solid fence at Little Worley’s Auto, combined with vehicles parked just outside the direct curb area but still squarely in the line of sight, made visibility extremely limited. It was obvious that these close calls were not due to driver negligence but rather the conditions of the intersection.

Nearby residents echoed similar concerns. Several told me they have complained about the intersection before but feel nothing has changed. Many pointed directly to the fence at Little Worley’s Auto and the placement of parked vehicles as key contributors to the unsafe conditions. One resident noted that although there have been numerous accidents over the years, it has been “luck” that none of them have resulted in life-threatening injuries. Still, she said, it’s only a matter of time if nothing changes.

“I’ve seen cars just miss each other by inches,” said another longtime resident. “It’s a miracle more people haven’t been hurt. The city needs to do something before someone loses their life.”

Some community members have even started avoiding the intersection altogether. Drivers traveling east or west on 4th Street seem to face the greatest difficulty, as their ability to see approaching traffic is significantly hindered.

Now, residents and business owners are urging the Hanford City Council to take action. They are calling for a formal traffic study and proposing solutions such as limiting parking in the problem area, modifying the fencing at Little Worley’s Auto, adding better signage, or redesigning the intersection to enhance safety.

Have you experienced a close call at 4th and Phillips? Do you believe the fence and parked vehicles are part of the problem? Share your story in the comments below and help bring more attention to this long-standing issue impacting Hanford drivers.