LI Village Starts Pedestrian Ed Program After Tragic Car Crashes

PATCHOGUE, NY — Two serious car crashes — one involving a toddler who died after she and her mother were struck by a car on 112 — have spurred a pedestrian education program and safety vest collection drive in the Village of Patchogue, officials said.

A 21-year-old mother and her two-year-old daughter had been crossing the treacherous roadway on her way back from the store when they were struck by a pickup truck on Oct. 25. The young mother was seriously injured, but her daughter died a short time later. Two weeks after the crash on Nov. 16, another pedestrian was struck and seriously injured.

"Route 112 is a state-controlled road and making physical changes to the road is a long process," Greater Patchogue of Commerce officials said in a email on Monday, adding that "Waiting is not an option."

Patchogue is starting a pedestrian education program, in collaboration with community partners like the Patchogue-Medford Library and the Suffolk County Police Department, and Mayor Paul Pontieri has been reaching out to unions and contractors for donations of safety vests, according to the chamber.

Pontieri envisions the vests saying "Courtesy of ______" with the donor's logo, and "Together we can create a safer community," chamber officials said.

The village's goal is 200 vests, and once that is reached, there will be a news conference to announce the initiative and recognize the donors' generosity, according to chamber officials.

"While we cannot change the road, we can change people's behavior," Mayor Paul Pontieri stated. "Providing vests will make pedestrians and bicyclists more visible and maybe save their lives.

Safety vest donations can be delivered to: Patchogue Village Hall, 14 Baker St., Patchogue, NY 11772. For more information, contact Marian H. Russo, executive director of the Community Development Agency at 631-475-4300, ext. 126, or via email at mrusso@patchoguevillage.org for more information.