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The Kissimmee Fire Department and other agencies around the state said a final goodbye to Lt. William Manning during funeral services on Tuesday.

Manning, who served the Kissimmee Fire Department for more than a decade, left behind a wife and children after he was hit and killed on his motorcycle by a St. Cloud woman in an SUV, who according to witnesses, was driving recklessly.

Sadly, it was a preventable tragedy.

What if there would have been a red light running camera at that intersection? Would it have spared Lt. Mannings life? Maybe.

According to Florida Highway Patrol reports, Manning, who was off duty, stopped his motorcycle at a traffic light on an exit ramp from eastbound Interstate 4 and was waiting to continue onto Osceola Parkway.

Meanwhile, the driver, a St. Cloud resident, was driving a Chrysler SUV westbound on the parkway in the right lane. According to several witnesses, the driver failed to stop for the traffic light that was turning red at the intersection. Manning entered the intersection and was hit by the SUV. He was ejected off the motorcycle and later transported to Celebration Health, where he was pronounced dead.

Its no secret that red light running has been a problem locally and statewide. How many times have you been at a Kissimmee intersection and watched three or four cars pass through after the traffic light turned red?

According to the state red light camera law, the fine of failing to stop for the traffic device is $158. Thats not a cheap penalty. If indeed the witnesses were correct, would that have motivated the driver who killed Manning to stop? Possibly.

Red light cameras have been criticized because some think its an intrusion in their personal lives. But its impossible to put an officer at every intersection 24 hours a day. Until somebody comes up with a better idea, we think red light cameras are the best deterrent. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragedy to send such a message.

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Sometimes it takes a tragedy to send a message