NJ Woman Killed While Walking Dog at Intersection Deemed Dangerous by Residents
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New Jersey - October 8, 2009
Carlyse Kennedy, 55, was walking her dog near the 5-way intersection of Mountain, Ashland, Devon, Plymouth and Pine Grove in Summit when a car hit her. The accident happened about 10 a.m. Monday, September 28. Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad responded to the accident scene and transported Kennedy to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where she died on Wednesday, September 30 a result of her injuries.
The car that hit Kennedy was a 2003 Lincoln Town Car from Royal Executive Limousine Service in Summit. The driver, Kermit Graham of Irvington, was fully cooperative with police. Kennedy carried no identification and police canvassed the neighborhood door to door to identify her. They later learned who she was by researching the dog’s license tags. The accident is under investigation and no charges have been filed. Chief-of-Police Robert Lucid has asked any who witnessed the accident to come forward.
Area residents have long deemed the intersection where Kennedy was struck dangerous. Six years ago, Pat Hurley who lives on Ashland Rd. and some of his neighbors joined to propose alternatives and petition the city to redesign the intersection. The city made only minor modifications at that time. Hurley says, “It was designed for speed.” The residents really wanted the intersection squared off with stop signs at every corner.
Hurley saw county public works employees removing school caution warnings painted on Mountain Avenue last week and was outraged. Summit Police Lt. John Dougherty said, “Union County re-engineered that intersection a little over a year ago. They changed it to a 90-degree angle to slow down cars making a right-hand turn heading east from New Providence.” Dougherty also said the crosswalk was moved to the corner of Ashland Road and Mountain Avenue for greater visibility.
Once again, residents of the area are banding together and asking for a redesign of the intersection. Josh and Corina Borg have written a letter from residents of Plymouth Road and the surrounding neighborhood in response to Kennedy’s death. The letter states, “The residents of Plymouth Road are deeply saddened by today’s tragedy and pray that it will never happen again. We hope that Mayor Glatt and fellow City Council members take special interest in this matter and enact corrective measures quickly to insure a safer environment for Summit residents and their children.”
Pat Hurley and area residents addressed the Common Council Meeting at Summit City Hall on Tuesday, October 6. They demanded the Summit City Council and Chief Lucid to make the area safer to prevent future tragedies. "This intersection is dangerous and deadly and we want action now," Hurley said.
If you, or a family member, have been the victim of a pedestrian vs. motor vehicle accident, contact us today to discuss your case and find out the best course of action to take to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. The attorneys at Napoli Bern Ripka LLP are experienced in handling motor vehicle accident and wrongful death cases and can help you negotiate with the insurance carrier or help you to arrange specialized medical care or compensation for your loss. Call 1-888-529-4669 or visit www.napolibern.com.