For residents of one Cambria Heights block, it was nothing new.
In the early morning hours of Friday, May 3, two cars reportedly collided and then careened into a home near the corner of Francis Lewis Boulevard and 133rd Avenue. According to residents, traffic conditions create a high number of accidents in the area.
“This is something that’s been happening for a while,” said Roxanne Depeiza, who lives next door to the damaged home.
Depeiza said the home’s resident, Pat Austin, frequently deals with her property being damaged, with cars regularly knocking down her fence. Friday’s accident was the second time her stairs have been destroyed, according to Depeiza.
“Those stairs are her entrance and exit to the house,” she said. “What does she do now?”
Austin could not be reached for comment.
Depeiza said last month, two cars got into an accident on the block and slid into her own parked van, “totaling” it completely.
Along Francis Lewis Boulevard, one traffic light is at 133rd Avenue, with another a short distance away at Merrick Boulevard. Residents said that cars speed down the road to make green lights.
“Once that first light changes, you don’t have much time to make the second,” said David Varick, who lives on the block.
Depeiza said she has asked the Department of Transportation (DOT) to install speed bumps in the area, but to no avail.
The DOT said it has not received any requests, but will review the location for the applicability of safety enhancements.
The department added there have been no fatalities, pedestrian injuries or serious driver injuries at the intersection between 2007 and 2011, the most recent year for which data is available.
“Somebody needs to do something about this before someone dies,” said Depeiza. “It’s getting worse every year. I could go on and on about how many accidents we see here.”
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