A couple in Forest Hills is fed up with speeding cars flying down their quiet residential street, which they say have led to several accidents. NY1’s Jared Smith filed the following report.
Chris and Marcia Caballero have been living on the corner of 72nd Avenue and Kessel Street for a year and a half.
In that short time, they've witnessed several accidents along the quiet residential block in Forest Hills.
“Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, I can count at least 10,” said Caballero.
The most recent wreck came earlier this week, just a few feet away from the Caballero's front yard, and if you look close enough, you can still see the debris scattered along the street.
"The lady ran the stop, shortly before 8:30 in the morning, plowed against an oncoming sedan which was full of kids. The screams of the passengers that we heard from the upstairs window right here were so horrifying," Caballero said.
Just two months earlier, Marcia witnessed an accident while she was waiting to cross an intersection on nearby Juno Street. She says an SUV ran a stop sign and collided with a school bus filled with children.
"All of a sudden I saw the school bus, the lady saw me but she doesn't want to stop, so she took over the stop quickly before I crossed the street and she didn't look to the right where the other car was coming," said Marcia.
Chris tells us he's now using the power of social media to help spread the word. Most notably, the Forest Hills Parents Facebook page, which has over 6,000 likes.
"So I think we're going to do something on Change.org, circulate a petition, so the neighbors can actually sign this and put this in front of our elected officials. So we're just at the cusp of starting this right now," Chris said.
According to the NYPD traffic data, there have been five accidents on 72nd avenue alone so far this year with several others scattered around the neighborhood.
The Department of Transportation is aware of the issue, and responded with the following statement:
“DOT is reviewing Kessel Street between 75th Road to 71st Avenue for speed humps. In 2003, we installed ‘No Standing Anytime’ signage to the northeast and southeast corners of Kessel Street and 72nd Avenue for daylighting – which increases visibility for approaching motorists at the intersection.”
But Caballero doesn't think that's enough, telling us he would also like a four-way stop sign to be installed on his block.
"The traffic stop signs don't cost very much to install, the speed bumps can be installed thereafter, but I think both of those would help create a little more safety with the drivers in the area," Caballero said.
Something he believes it would give residents here a little more peace of mind.