Letter to the Editor: Sprain Brook Fatal Crash Highlights Need for Safety Improvements

To the Editor:

Another tragedy…An off-duty NYPD detective — who took a day off to spend time with his family — was killed in a car crash after a wrong-way driver hit his vehicle early today. The accident happened early this morning on the Sprain Brook Parkway near Route 100B, at the 6 mile marker on the parkway in Greenburgh. The officer was identified as 46-year-old Detective Paul Duncan. Detective Duncan worked for the Internal Affairs Bureau’s narcotics team He served the police department for 17 years.

I am suggesting that the state look into safety improvements along the Sprain Brook Parkway after analyzing accident data. The state government should consider giving the State Police and State DOT more resources to improve safety. Whether it’s improved infrastructure, signage or increased state police manpower, something should be done. One of the impacts of the poor economy: NYS has cut back on policing parkways and highways under their jurisdiction. They don’t have the personnel to adequately patrol major roads around the state. Perhaps state surcharges from traffic tickets issued along the parkway can be allocated to directly fund the improvements and the hiring of additional police to patrol state parkways, roads and highways.

I will be reaching out to state lawmakers and will ask that they give this the highest priority attention. Today’s accident is not the first fatality on the parkway--and it probably won’t be the last. Sadly, many motorists are not careful when driving on the Sprain. Many think the road is a speedway –contributing to the number of accidents on the parkway. I have also asked for an analysis of the number of accidents on this parkway.

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor