Smithtown petition calls for public safety on Main Street following Accidents and fatalities
By Phil Forte
SMITHTOWN – A petition started by Lisa DeMarco-Stevenson* of Smithtown asks that both short-term and long-term measures be implemented on Main Street (downtown Smithtown) to prevent future pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
Since 2009 Main Street has been the location of multiple pedestrian deaths. Recently two children crossing at a crosswalk on Lawrence Ave were injured and one of the children was hospitalized with serious injuries after being stuck by an SUV. In addition to the pedestrian fatalities, injuries and automobile accidents, last week two men were arrested for racing and aggressive driving on Main Street. Main Street has a 30 mph speed limit.
Prior to the May 5th incident where two Central Islip sisters Melody age 9 and Mabel Burgos age 13 were injured, in February of 2011 Seamus Byrne, a Kings Park resident and an Afghanistan War Veteran, was killed while walking to his car after celebrating his 33rd birthday. And in November of 2009 11-year-old Courtney Sipes was killed while walking across Main Street in the designated crosswalk.
The petition being distributed by email urges state, county and town officials, to work collectively to develop a well-coordinated plan that will radically increase safety for pedestrians walking along Main Street.
“This is a popular downtown area lending itself to pedestrian use with shops, restaurants, bars, a theatre, library, parks and a train station nearby. It has become an area, however, where pedestrians are fearful
Memorial on Main Street where Courtney Sipes was killed and Melody and Mabel Burgos were injured. for their lives,” the petition states.
Main Street, a state road under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Transportation, is dangerous for a number of reasons, according to the petition.
“Four narrow lanes of traffic are only 9 feet wide; the two inside lanes are used for turning lanes, which causes traffic to back up and encourages sudden and aggressive lane changes; and the crossing distance for pedestrians to cross Main Street is over 40 feet, without an area of refuge.”
* Lisa DeMarco-Stevenson was unavailable for comments.