By Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Frederique Rowe lost her 1-year-old daughter, Skylar Perkins, who was killed in her pink stroller by a truck on 23rd Avenue in Elmhurst.
The mother was crossing when the light turned green. but the driver apparently didn’t realize pedestrians have the right of way.
This case is one of hundreds of deaths caused by careless drivers who are too much in a hurry to care about pedestrians who follow the rules of crossing the street.
For the most part pedestrians observe the crossing rules at the green not in between.
Now I can testify to that fact because last year I didn’t have a car for six weeks and had to take three buses in one direction and back and was forced to cross various intersections.
I traveled between Bellerose and Mineola. I had to cross at one point at Lakeview Road and Union turnpike and another intersection at New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike and found it dangerous.
I am a senior citizen and have bad knees and can’t walk too fast to get across the street.
When I crossed at the green when the light told me to walk, a couple of times I was almost hit by cars trying to make their turns in a hurry.
At times I was forced to hold up my hands in a motion to stop the cars and hope I would not get hit.
Now I am driving again and I am increasingly aware of the pedestrians in the walkway and proceed with caution.
I only wish other drivers would show more concern and follow the rules of the road when it comes to pedestrians.
If this does not happen, more children like Skylar will surely die for no reason.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Glen Oaks Village
