Three Car Accident at Scotch Plains and First Raises Safety Concerns

A three-car accident at the intersection of Scotch Plains Avenue and First Street this afternoon has raised concerns about the safety of the intersection. The accident is the third accident or near-accident at the intersection in as many days.

The three cars—a Toyota, Ford truck and small Chevy—crashed shortly after noon on Monday. Damage was evident to the fronts of the truck and the Chevy and the rear of the Toyota. The most visible damage was sustained by the Chevy, which had a bent-in hood. A bumper was found on the sidewalk and pieces of the cars and lights were found on the street and the sidewalk following the accident.

It is not clear which direction the vehicles were traveling at the time of the accident. According to a witness to the aftermath, there were no serious injuries from any of those in the vehicles but victims were transported to the hospital by the Rescue Squad for observation.

According to a neighborhood resident, the intersection has seen several accidents and near-accidents in recent days. There was a two-car accident on Sunday and on Friday afternoon an adult and child on bikes were almost hit by a van which failed to stop when they were in the crosswalk. A recently enacted state law, sponsored by Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), mandates that drivers need to stop when a pedestrian or biker is in the crosswalk.

Scotch Plains Avenue serves as one of the busier secondary roads on the south side, connecting South Avenue and West Broad Street with other south side residential neighborhoods. The intersection with First is a block from the blinking light at West Broad Street. The intersection sees a high amount of pedestrian traffic during the school year with the high school and McKinley School and during the summer from the nearby Memorial Pool.

The intersection of Hyslip and First, a block away from the intersection of Scotch Plains and First in the fall after the advocacy of then-Councilman Tom Bigosinski and a neighborhood petition. The crossing guard was placed at the intersection due to several near-accidents with the high amount of students crossing.

The Town Council is currently reviewing all 57 crossing guard posts in town as part of the creation of the town budget. This includes the possibility of cutting several crossing guard posts in town.