The traffic signal pole at the entrance of West High School, the scene of a fatal crash in January, will be taken down soon and replaced with another pole.

The pole remained standing after it was hit by a BMW carrying four teenagers Jan. 27. But the impact of the crash, which killed West High School student Mike Ucci and caused driver Bret Clifton to lose his legs, was enough to crack the base of the steel pole and damage its concrete foundation.

The city of Tracy is likely to remove and replace this lightpole outside West High School

(above). The pole was at the center of a January car crash that killed West High student Mike Ucci, maimed Bret Clifton, and injured Justin Baker and Marie Ucci. It became a makeshift memorial for friends and family following the accident (below left) and messages scrawled on the pole can still be seen (below right).

The pole immediately became the scene of memorials and tributes to Ucci, Clifton, Justin Baker and Marie Ucci (the other crash victims) and is still covered with writing in remembrance of the tragedy.

Police estimated that the BMW was traveling at freeway speed when it slammed broadside into the pole. Tracy City Engineer Kul Sharma said the pole was designed to withstand that type of impact, but additional stress placed on the pole by strong winds could make the damage worse.

The Tracy City Council on Tuesday will consider an $18,859 contract with Richard A. Heaps Electrical Contractors Inc. of Sacramento to remove and replace the pole.

Sharma said the old pole will stay at the city’s maintenance yard in case police who investigated the crash want to examine it further. He said part of it could be reused later, or it could be sold as scrap metal.