After a teenage girl was killed in a hit and run crash in Rosedale, local leaders are calling on the city to make the streets safer for both pedestrians and drivers. NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.
An NYPD electric sign now stands at the intersection of Sunrise Highway and Francis Lewis Boulevard, calling for information about the hit and run driver who killed 16 year-old Alexia Smith early Wednesday morning.
"It's an unfortunate situation. This has not been the first major accident and incident that we've had at this intersection," said Councilmember Donovan Richards.
Police say Smith was hit in the crosswalk by a dark colored van traveling east on Sunrise around 12:30am. The driver left the scene and Smith was found unresponsive in the roadway. She was pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital.
Now, Richards and Rosedale residents are calling for traffic calming measures along this busy 7-lane highway.
"One way to really find a real solution to this problem is speed cameras because we know it's a huge deterrent," said Richard.
The Department of Transportation says the agency is looking closely to see what measures can be used to enhance safety. However, state law prohibits DOT from installing speed cameras at this location because it's not in a school zone. Also cameras can only be operational during school hours. The spokesperson says they hope to work with state officials to gain the ability to place cameras at locations like this.
"Something has to be done," said Mabel Douglas, who lives in Rosedale.
Residents say this incident is another prime example of why the area needs another police precinct. It's within the confines of the 105, which is one of the largest geographic precincts in the city.
"We need more police officers, we need our precinct! Our 116th Precinct, we need it," said Jackie Campbell, a Rosedale resident.
Richards recently sent a letter to Mayor de Blasio asking for a new police precinct to serve the Rosedale area. A city hall spokesperson says, "this administration is committed to protecting all our city’s neighborhoods, and [the] NYPD is always open to discussions on additional ways to keep New York City the safest big city in America."