Colbert Petitions for Turnpike Safety Measures

By James Kennedy

Mayor John P. Colbert announced at the Dec. 3 Village of Mineola open board meeting that he had written a letter to the New York State Department of Transportation requesting measures be taken to improve the safety of Jericho Turnpike.

These actions were sparked by an incident which occurred at around 9:30 p.m. the night before the village meeting, where a man was severely injured by a speeding car.

The accident resulted in multiple compound fractures in both legs of the victim as well as fractures to the hips, collarbone and skull. He is currently being treated in Winthrop-University Hospital.

Both the Mineola Fire Department and the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps were on the scene.

Mineola Fire Chief Walter Langer explained that the young man had been struck by a westbound vehicle while he was in the street standing over the double yellow lines in the middle of the street.

Originally standing in front of the police booth adjacent to the village hall at 181 Jericho Turnpike, the man was sent roughly 150 feet landing in front of the Mineola Hardware Store.

Colbert's letter to the New York State Department of Transportation specifically addresses the area of Jericho Turnpike between Mineola Boulevard and Willis Ave.

The letter, in part, reads; "I am deeply concerned over dangers posed by precarious traffic conditions in our Village and most anxious to render whatever assistance is necessary to rectify those situations. My attention is focused on Jericho Turnpike within the aforementioned vicinity. This has been the site of some disturbing traffic related incidents."

The letter continued, "I am requesting that the NYSDOT conduct a review of this state roadway within the area defined to determine whether a traffic device or safety control is warranted to assist in the prevention of unnecessary accidents."

Colbert's letter is necessitated by the fact that Mineola has no jurisdiction over the altering of Jericho Turnpike as it is a state road. He commented that he has contacted the DOT in the past about the inherent dangers of Jericho Turnpike and will continue to do so.