Suffolk Police Stepping Up Pedestrian Safety

YAPHANK, NY — Suffolk police will be taking part in New York State's Pedestrian Safety Action Plan over the next two weeks, officials announced Saturday.

The department will focus on educating motorists and pedestrians about safety and offer tips aimed at curbing crashes involving pedestrians through Thursday, officials said in a Facebook post.

The second round of the campaign, from Friday through Aug. 4, will be geared toward enforcement, and officers who encounter motorists violating sections of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, "will take appropriate action," including giving out tickets, according to officials.

"Following the rules of the road, especially when it comes to the safety of pedestrians, will save lives," officials said in the post.

Pedestrian safety has been an issue in the Patchogue area for several years now.

There was one fatality in Patchogue in 2019, none in 2020, and three in 2021, Suffolk police told The Long Island Advance.

Following two serious car crashes, one involving a toddler who died and another with a seriously injured pedestrian, the police joined with the Village of Patchogue and Patchogue-Medford Library officials to launch a pedestrian education and safety vest collection drive.

The goal of the initiative was to provide vests to pedestrians to make it easier for drivers to see them at night.

On Sunday night a local man became the latest tragedy on Route 112.

Mely Josue Galeas-Roque, 32, of Patchogue, was crossing the roadway, north of Shaber Road, when he was struck by a northbound 2021 Dodge Ram pickup truck that was driven by Ryan Novia at about 5:30 p.m. Novia was not injured and was not issued any tickets.