Politics & Government

Wantagh Mom Who Lost Daughter Backs 'Walk Safe Campaign'

Hempstead Turnpike and Sunrise Highway targeted in pedestrian safety effort.

As part of Nassau County’s Walk Safe Campaign, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announced Tuesday the debut of a public service video aimed at increasing safety and awareness both for pedestrians crossing busy streets and for the drivers expected to yield to them at crosswalks.

The video, produced by film students from Long Island University, features the stories of three teens that died after being struck while crossing Hempstead Turnpike and Sunrise Highway over a period of five years.

The Walk Safe Campaign, launched in 2012, is a complete pedestrian program addressing both the driver and the pedestrian through education, enforcement and engineering.

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Hempstead Turnpike and Sunrise Highway are constantly rated among the region’s most dangerous roadways.

While statistics indicate that 13 pedestrian fatalities occurred on Hempstead Turnpike between 2009 and 2011, Mangano said that no pedestrians have died crossing Hempstead Turnpike in the past year since the Walk Safe Campaign was launched.

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The last pedestrian death to occur on Hempstead Turnpike – statistically the more dangerous of the two – came in April 2012 when 16-year-old Levittown resident Anthony D'Alessandro was struck and killed crossing the turnpike.

Attending Tuesday’s presentation was Sandi Vega, whose 14-year-old daughter Brittany was struck and killed crossing Sunrise Highway on her way to school in 2010.

Joining Sandi were Kelliann Davis, Amanda Davis and Coleen Davis, the family of Lauren Davis, who was struck and killed crossing Hempstead Turnpike near the Wantagh Parkway entrance in 2009.


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