Push for light at dangerous corner

After a 12-year-old girl, whose name is not known, was recently hit by a car while trying to cross the street at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and 71st Place, the latest in a string of accidents at that location, Glendale residents now plan to ask the city to install a traffic light at this corner.
The girl got hit around 2:45 p.m. on September 11, said Julieta Franco, a witness. Franco was at her work place, located at the same intersection, when she heard “a deep loud thud.” She said she rushed outside to find the girl lying on her stomach, with her feet not even an inch from the tire. “Her shoes were off. She was with her school skirt. She was crying uncontrollably,” said Franco.
“I have an eight-year-old, so everything was very emotional,” she explained. So, although the injured girl is now okay, Franco decided to start a petition to install a traffic light at this location, where she said she witnesses about 10 near-accidents every week.
“When I take my daughter to school, the cars are bumper to bumper and if they see you trying to cross, they speed up,” Franco said. “You have to dodge these cars. It’s a matter of, ‘Okay, how fast can I cross the street.’”
So far, Franco said she has collected about 100 signatures from residents and local merchants. Those who want to support the cause can also add their name to a list kept at 71-04 Myrtle Avenue, which is the office of Senator Serphin Maltese, who represents the area, said Victoria Vattimo, chief of staff in Maltese’s office.
“The time has come to slow traffic down on Myrtle Avenue and a traffic light at this particular intersection would do just that,” Maltese said. “Too many accidents have occurred and we need to take action now before another innocent pedestrian is injured, or tragically killed, trying to cross Myrtle Avenue.”
So far this year, five minor accidents at the intersection have been reported to the police, said Detective Joe Savitolo from the New York Police Department.
“Once we get the request, we’ll open up a study for that location. They’ll look at the number of accidents, vehicle volume and pedestrian volume,” said Craig Chin, spokesperson for the Department Of Transportation. The study, which takes about 12 weeks, will show whether a traffic light is needed at that corner, Chin said.