Multi accidents hit congested Cedarhurst, Lawrence

Ranging from multiple-vehicle accidents to pedestrians being hit to a driving-while-intoxicated arrest, 15 motor vehicle incidents were reported in Cedarhurst and Lawrence between Oct. 28 and Nov. 26, according to the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department.

“These weren’t just fender-benders,” said John McHugh, chief of the LCFD. “In some instances the cars were destroyed and people were seriously injured.” 

McHugh could not say for certain what contributed to all of the accidents — see chart on page 9 — but he did say that speeding played a role in some, and others involved vehicles making left turns at busy intersections. “The severity is more troubling, including the serious pedestrian accidents,” he said, adding that the number of accidents is up compared with the same period in other years. 

In Cedarhurst, a pedestrian was struck and seriously injured on Oct. 29 at the intersection of Central and Columbia avenues. A day later, a bicyclist was hit by a car on Oakland Avenue. 

On Central Avenue in Cedarhurst — where the speed limit has been 20 mph since 1998 — there are three designated crosswalks: one on Columbia Avenue, one by Parking Field No. 6 and one between McGlynn Place and Locust Avenue. There are two more crosswalks on Cedarhurst Avenue, near the Number Five School, where signs inform motorists that state law requires that they yield to crossing pedestrians. All five crosswalks have been installed in the past three years.

Mayor Andrew Parise said that if residents register a complaint about a specific street or intersection, the village tries to mitigate the problem, or, if it’s a county road, a complaint is filed and the village follows up. “People have to cross at the crosswalks,” Parise said, addressing the accidents involving pedestrians. “I don’t know how much more we can do. If there is a [trouble spot] we will take care of it. We keep up with the [crosswalk] yield signs. They’re very expensive, and cars hit them.” The mayor said it costs about $400 to replace one sign.