By Gari Voss
The Allegan City Police responded to a call on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, that there was a rollover accident at the curve of North Cedar and Delano Streets. When the officer arrived, a car was found on its hood on the north side of Delano Street.
Upon the initial observation, the car attempted to turn onto Delano Street and misjudged the curve. During a conversation with Police Chief Jay Gibson, the driver was inebriated. He was not seriously injured and was arrested.
In a posting on Allegan Informed, Lisa Garringer stated, “Since the construction of the traffic roundabout and the new housing subdivision on Delano, both vehicle and pedestrian traffic have increased significantly on Delano St. Unfortunately, there is a widespread disregard for the posted 25 mph speed limit by personal and commercial motor vehicles alike, stretching all the way from M-40 to the traffic light at N. Cedar and Monroe.”
Garringer added that over seven years, she had witnessed numerous accidents involving the 90-degree corner at N. Cedar Street and Delano Street. She felt that the corner was a year-round problem, and the most recent rollover was just the tip of the iceberg.
“It is no longer a question of if someone will be seriously injured or killed, but when,” emphasized Garringer. “In fact, during that recent rollover, pedestrians had walked through that exact spot just moments prior. Thankfully, this time no one was injured.”
Chief Gibson shared that since 2024, there have been two accidents. He and the city officers have taken many opportunities to monitor the driving habits of those who traverse Delano Street and other streets in this area. This one involved a drunk driver. Another accident occurred in the winter when the driver was driving too fast for conditions.
Before 2024, there was an occurrence when a driver hit the guardrail. This was because of a medical event.
The Allegan Police take calls from residents on Delano Street seriously. The report often requests more police presence and issuing more tickets.
North Cedar and Delano Streets have become a connector between M-222 and M-40/M-89 going toward Holland. Unlike Marshall Street, it is not a State maintained street which formally carries M-89 traffic. There are no stop signs or lights because of traffic congestion. The street is just a way to bypass the traffic at stop lights or the increase in afternoon traffic when school and work get out.
At different times, an electronic monitoring device has been placed on Delano Street to assist in reminding drivers of their speed compared to the posted speed limit. The city has two of these signs that are rotated around the city for different situations.
When monitoring the speed of drivers, officers find that more than 85% are averaging less than 30 MPH. Chief Gibson explained that the officers make stops for speed and/or reckless driving. The goal is to get drivers to improve their driving habits. A driver may only receive a warning the first time he/she is stopped. If the driver is stopped a second time, a ticket is often issued.
The police give speed on city streets much attention. There have been times when they are called by the same person who is complaining about drivers on Delano Street. In one incident, the next person stopped was the wife of the person making the complaint. This is just an example that unless a driver sets his or her cruise control, the speed limit can easily be crossed.
In her post, Garringer encouraged city residents to attend the City Council meeting to share their concerns with the Council members and request “immediate traffic-calming measures”.
On behalf of the city and county law enforcement officers, the request is for all drivers to slow down, follow the speed limit and information signs, and drive according to road conditions.
