By: George Mikhail
Hempstead Turnpike has been the most dangerous road in New York for pedestrians. Two teenagers have been struck dead by cars in a ten-month span while crossing the road. Anthony D'Alessandro, a high school student, was struck dead by a minivan while crossing earlier this year. A few months before that tragedy, 19-year old Peter Thearle was struck and killed by two vehicles while crossing the turnpike. Between 2008 and 2011, there have been 20 fatalities involving pedestrians on the Hempstead Turnpike.
The New York State Department of Transportation is planning to implement safety measures to ensure pedestrian safety. The Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald explained that improvements to the road will include new crosswalks, traffic signal changes, optimizing signal timing to slow vehicles down, and moving bus stops closer to crosswalks.
