Residents Call For Safety Improvements After 2 Deaths On Bridgewater Roads

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Residents are calling on the township administration to make safety improvements to local roadways after two Bridgewater residents were killed including an 11-year-old girl who was hit by a truck while riding her bike.

Finderne

"This is a tough reality we have been dealing with over the past two years. I, myself, have been a witness of near misses almost every single day. Our community really needs your help with this one to ensure it never happens again. I can speak for myself, my neighbors, we are all living in constant fear of letting our kids out again," said Monica Chaves who lives in the Finderne section of town at the April 21 council meeting.

Chaves said Victoria Pereira Bastos was hit on April 2 while riding her bike directly in front of her home at the intersection of 3rd Street and Fulton Avenue. Read More: Young Girl Hit, Killed By Pickup Truck At Bridgewater Intersection

Councilman Filipe Pedroso recently went out to the area with his family and said he "couldn't help but observe that there are in fact quite a lot of fast-moving vehicles that cut through there. I think in part maybe people want to avoid the light [at Finderne Avenue and Main Street] and they make that zig-zag through that area," said Pedroso.

Bridgewater Administrator Mike Pappas said the township engineering department and the police department have visited the site and are working on possible options to improve safety in the area.

Sometime this week, township officials and police officials will be visiting the are again to canvas the neighborhood, said Pappas.

Many of the proposed considerations would need a vote from the township council before moving forward, said Pappas.

Maikol Vargas, who lives in the Finderne section of the township, launched a petition on April 4 to improve traffic safety in the area which has more than 2,300 signatures. For more information or to sign the petition click here. Read More: Petition Looks To Improve Traffic Safety After Bridgewater Girl Killed

Country Club

A 96-year-old Bridgewater man also recently died from injuries he received after crashing into a tree in the township on April 8 at the intersection of Country Club Road and Talamini Road. Read More: 96-Year-Old Bridgewater Man Dies After Crashing Into Tree

"It's no secret that Country Club is becoming a drag slip. Talamini at Country Club is becoming a hot haven for stop sign blows," said Deanna Nye, whose home and property are where Walter Ackner crashed.

Nye said she has been living in the township since 1964 and has a special needs child. She said cars have "taken out" her reflectors installed along the curb and even her mailbox multiple times.

Speeding and not stopping for the stop sign are both common occurrences for cars, including school buses, at that intersection, said Nye.

"I am asking the town to immediately reduce the speed limit on Country Club Road," said Nye.

Jessica Demcsak, who also lives on Country Club Road, echoes Nye's sentiments asking the township to install a flashing stop sign or more signage.

"They are going incredibly fast. Way faster than 40 mph," said Demscsak.

Since the crash, Nye started a petition to improve traffic safety measures which has more than 160 signatures.

"In the last 18 years I have witnessed multiple car crashes at the 3-way intersection of Country Club Road and Talamini Rd and this section of Country Club Road in Bridgewater, NJ. The last five years it has become progressively worse with speeders, along with disregarding signs, school buses, pedestrians, property etc. Living at this intersection was never this bad up until the last five years," wrote Nye on Change.org.

Bridgewater Councilman Michael Kirsh asked the administration to consider blasting a public service announcement to get drivers to slow down and offering tips such as leaving the house a couple of minutes early.

"If we can be the voice of reason, even if the margins are small, even if it's just one tragedy averted," said Kirsh.

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