Familes Of Accident Victims Share Stories, Make Pleads To Improve Safety On County Road 111

Emotions ran high at times on Monday night as more than 100 people gathered at the Eastport South Manor Junior-Senior High School to discuss ways to improve safety and reduce accidents on County Road 111—the site of several fatal crashes over the years and, most recently, one that claimed the life of an Eastport Elementary School student and his mother.

Throughout the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, concerned residents listened to testimonials given by family members of accident victims, including a tearful presentation by Danielle Chavez—the cousin of 30-year-old Keri Trinka of Manorville who, along with her 7-year-old son Jason, died in a car accident on October 8. Jason’s younger siblings—Marialena, 4, and Christopher, 2— also were seriously injured in the crash.

Wiping tears, Ms. Chavez told attendees that, even though she works in the area, she will never again drive on County Road 111. She then begged to know why it took the death of two of her family members for Suffolk County officials to finally take a closer look at the four-lane highway.

“I don’t want this to ever happen to anybody else,” Ms. Chavez said. “It doesn’t have to. I thank everyone for coming together—it is just too late. This should have happened years ago.”

Monday’s meeting, which also featured local politicians and representatives from Suffolk County—including its police department and Department of Public Works—was intended to discuss potential fixes that could slow drivers down and keep motorists safe. County Road 111 links the Long Island Expressway with Sunrise Highway and even though the speed limit varies between 45 mph and 55 mph, most in attendance noted that drivers often travel in excess of 70 mph.

The meeting began with a PowerPoint presentation by Jonathan Cohen. Mr. Cohen, a member of the newly formed safety committee for the Manorville Chamber of Commerce, said he took it upon himself to investigate exactly how dangerous it is to drive on County Road 111. He shared video that he took with a camera mounted on the dashboard of his car and labeled what he believed to be the most dangerous spots on the highway.

According to Mr. Cohen, the most dangerous sections are where it intersects with Bauer and Chapman avenues, Halsey Manor Road, Ocean View Drive and Gordon Street. All of the intersections feature either traffic signals or stop signs, though those devices have not done enough to improve safety, he said.

Mr. Cohen’s main recommendations included: prohibiting left turns at certain intersections; converting the blinking traffic light at the intersection of Halsey Manor Road—near the new fire department substation—into a regular signal; and installing medians along certain parts of the road to stop drivers from crossing several lanes of traffic to access the northbound lanes.

“A powerful activism has inspired this community,” Mr. Cohen said to start his presentation. “The most important thing is that we all want to be safe.”

According to statistics provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, between January 1, 2010, and October 31, 2011, there have been 170 car accidents—including several fatal ones—along County Road 111. Mr. Cohen stated that on a typical August day, when traffic is usually at its peak, an average of 81,300 cars drive on the road.

By making the subtle changes he is suggesting, Mr. Cohen said he hopes to one day drive on the highway without having to rely on “the grace of God.”

Another powerful presentation was given by Manorville resident Dr. Peter Angelo, a health sciences professor at Stony Brook University. His father, Vincent, who also lived in the community, died in a car accident on County Road 111 in October 2008.

According to Dr. Angelo, his father died while attempting to cross County Road 111 from Gordon Street; he said a car traveling 55 mph smashed into his father’s vehicle, pushing it at least 100 feet.

“I cannot tell you the trauma that I have gone through,” Dr. Angelo said while holding up a photo of his late father, a former Marine and a retired member of the Fire Department of New York. “I will never get over it.”

His sister, Karen, also blamed the highway for her father’s death. “If that road had been changed, he would not have died,” she said. “I take that road every day and I feel like I am taking my life in my own hands.”

Following the testimonials, a petition containing 4,500 signatures was presented to Suffolk County Legislator Edward Romaine requesting that the county improve the safety of motorists along County Road 111.

Mr. Romaine said he is requesting that the county’s Department of Public Works conduct a traffic study that examines the corridor. Additionally, he is drafting a resolution that asks the county to install three new traffic lights along County Road 111; it wasn’t immediately clear where those signals would be installed.

Mr. Romaine also urged community members to continue to apply pressure on the county.

“This meeting is a step in the right direction, so that reasonable people have a chance to survive,” he said. “I will raise my voice, but I need your voices raised with me.”

William Hillman, the chief engineer with the county’s DPW, also attended the meeting and said his office will review the recommendations of audience members. He also warned that, even with some of the improvements, the road would still remain dangerous at certain points.

“There is no silver bullet,” Mr. Hillman said. “Nothing will fix these issues 100 percent. I wish we had a magic wand to wave and make all of these accidents go away, but that is not the world that we live in.”

The Manorville chamber’s safety committee plans to hold another public meeting in January. A date has not yet been scheduled.

“I applaud everyone for coming out tonight,” Mr. Hillman said. “This is the first step of a thousand. We are here listening and trying to understand your concerns, but this must be a two-way street with dialogue.”