Car Accident at North Ave. and Tuttle Pkwy Sends Two to Hospital
Union County EMS provided a second ambulance.
A two-car accident occurred at the fatal intersection of North Avenue and Tuttle Parkway at approximately 2:08 p.m. this afternoon, according to Westfield police.
Westfield Police Capt. Cliff Auchter confirmed the accident sent two victims to nearby hospitals; one to Overlook and one to Rahway.
Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad president Reid Edles said the squad responded with one ambulance for the first patient and Union County EMS provided a second ambulance for the other victim.
Additional details were not immediately available.
In late January, Patricia Currie, 68, of Scotch Plains was passing through the intersection of North Avenue at Tuttle Parkway when it is believed she grazed a pedestrian as he crossed the street. After she stopped to attempt to lead him to the other side of the intersection, the pair was struck by two vehicles driven by Charles Casiere, 84, and John Diaz, 74, both of Westfield.
In June, Casiere was charged with vehicular homicide and assault by auto. Previously he had been charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, failure to report an accident and reckless driving. Diaz was previously charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, failure to report an accident and reckless driving. In June, an additional charge, second degree leaving the scene of an accident, was added.
NR9
6:51 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
Which, if any, of the Gordon Meth (town traffic safety expert) recommendations did Mayor Skibitsky implement at North Ave / Tuttle Pkwy subsequent to the fatal accident at that same location in January? Does anybody know?
Josh Kadoo
8:07 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
NR9, aren't you referring to the accident in which both drivers were wasted? Should the mayor have installed breathalyzer activated traffic lights?
NR9
8:25 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
@Josh Kadoo. Yes, that's the accident. And yes, you are correct that the mayor cannot be responsible for people drinking and driving. However, SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO that January 2012 accident/fatality taking place, that location was identified by the town of Westfield as being one of a small portion of roadway sections that had experienced a significant amount of traffic accidents (Westfield’s “Hot Spots”). The town hired a traffic safety expert (Gordon Meth) to study those intersections very closely and then provide recommendations for improving safety at those locations. Years later, many of those recommendations remained ignored. Included with those recommendations that were ignored was a recommendation to significantly increase lighting at this very intersection where Ms. Currie was killed and it's widely believed that poor lighting was a contributing factor (unlike yesterday’s accident, that accident took place at nighttime). If the town expert's recommendations are not going to be followed, then our local government officials should explain and properly document good reasons for ignoring those experts and/or for doing something different from what our town's traffic safety experts have recommended. North and Tuttle is not the only such intersection where traffic safety expert recommendations were ignored. I believe the portion of roadway on Central Avenue between Clover and Cambridge is another such location.
Lorena Barbosa
7:12 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
Does anyone know if there are any plans for a light there?
slk2003
8:10 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
I live near there and cross frequently, often with my kids. I always feel vulnerable. With a middle school a block away, you would think there would be a light.
ddougyy
9:14 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Lights at that intersection would be really awesome, might I add.
Jeff B
9:37 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Ignoring your traffic safety expert's recommendations creates liability issues for the town, in my opinion. Tragic accidents recurring at these locations is bad enough without adding exposure for the town and its taxpayers. I don't get it.
Rex
10:45 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
@JeffB
It seems Mayor Skibitsky doesn't get it either.
South-side resident
12:17 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
I agree with slk2003. I also use that bridge frequently with my kids in the car, and always feel vulnerable. I have always wondered why there was no light -- or anything at all -- to address to safety reccos made to the mayor and council. I think I read something recently about how they are thinking of putting another HAWK light at the crosswalk by Lord and Taylor? Is this true? If so, that makes no sense to me. No offense to the L&T employees, but I imagine they are the only small group that a light placed there would serve. I feel like it's L&T's problem to provide safe parking for their own employees, not the town's. Why spend money to put a light there, when the Tuttle/North Ave intersection is used MUCH more, and is much more dangerous. I feel in peril in my car, cant imagine what pedestrians crossing there must feel like. It's amazing the motorists who don't stop to allow someone to cross. And often if they do, a speeding car will pass them on their right side! Also, while we are on the subject of this area, I wish the town would change the Yield sign on Tuttle (coming from Clark Street) to a Stop sign. 95% of people blow through that Yield sign without even looking.