Following Fatal Crash Intersection Changes Investigated

Following a that killed a Freehold woman, a member of the Howell Township Council has been working to prevent any further atalities at the intersection of Route 9 and Strickland Rd.

Township Manager Helene Schlegel sent a letter to the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation at the end of January on behalf of Councilman Robert Nicastro. Calling it "an immediate safety concern," Schlegel sent the letter to Commissioner James Simpson since Route 9 is a state road.

In the letter obtained by Howell Patch Nicastro said "there have been numerous accidents, fatal and life threatening at this location," and described the crash that killed the 26-year-old woman. In light of the crash Nicastro said, "this situation requires immediate attention."

The intersection located near the Freehold border of the town could have some improvements done to reduce accidents according to Nicastro. "The intersection is poorly designed with unclear traffic signals and markings," he said. While there is a light controlling the intersection Nicastro called it, "fatally flawed" not only for drivers on Route 9 but those travelling on Strickland.

Another point of concern for the councilman is the fact that drivers making a left turn do not have a sufficiently controlled environment. "The individual turning is forced to cut off vehicles travelling straight," he said. "This intersection is simply not safe. Having witnessed the aftermath of several accidents and even more near misses, I urge you to take action."

At that time Nicastro and Schlegel requested a meeting with the State Highway Administration to expedite helping motorists on the busy roadway at that intersection and others in the town. 

Schlegel's letter got a response from Anthony Attanasioon, the Assistant Commissioner for Government and Community relations. In the letter he said that the DOT is "in the profess of developing plans for the enhancement of vehicle and pedestrian safety at the intersection."

At that time he said a representative from the department would be in contact with them to set up a meeting. As of Tuesday afternoon no meeting had yet been scheduled. 

The council is scheduled to meet tonight at 7:30. Part of the agenda is a public hearing on a property maintenence ordinance that was at the last meeting.