Questions Raised About Roosevelt School Accident

The Town Council was asked Tuesday night about safety measures planned for the intersection of Clark Street and Tuttle Parkway after a two car accident at the intersection earlier in the day.

Sharon Stockwell, the president of the advocacy organization We Care, addressed the Council's workshop meeting about Tuesday afternoon's accident, asking what traffic safety measures were planned for the intersection. She noted that curves in the road along Clark Street make it difficult for those on Tuttle to see oncoming cars.

The accident was caused when a car failed to stop at the stop sign on Tuttle hitting a car traveling on Clark Street. One of the cars jumped the curb and damaged the sign in front of Roosevelt Intermediate School.

Councilman Mark Ciarrocca, the chairman of the Council's public safety committee, said the town has been addressing measures at the intersection including limiting parking on Clark Street, restricting parts of Clark to being a pick up and drop off zone for Roosevelt and placing a crossing guard at the intersection. He noted that the issues have received feedback from those in the neighborhood.

"We have had push back from folks who normally park around there," Ciarrocca said.

Stockwell said speed issues have been of concern at the intersection with cars on Clark Street. She said cars coming off of Dudley and from the YMCA have been of concern because of speeding. Mayor Andy Skibitsky asked Police Chief John Parizeau to take a look at safety statistics for the intersection to help guide future safety upgrades.

Parizeau for his part noted that no matter what safety upgrades are placed at the intersection Tuesday's accident could not be avoided.

"This accident is one of those things that you can't stop, she blew past the stop sign," Parizeau said.