Advocates Want More Safety Improvements Along Hempstead Turnpike

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Safety improvements have been made on a deadly stretch of Hempstead Turnpike in Nassau County but some advocates said it's not enough.

Eight pedestrians have been killed since the state began a $2 million safety overhaul of the 16-mile-long road in 2012, Newsday reported.

Listen to Hempstead Turnpike Remains Dangerous Despite $2 Million In Safety Improvements

In the most recent incident, Bryanna Soplin, a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome, was crossing Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown when she was struck and killed on June 15.

The Department of Transportation has made several safety improvements including widening more than 100 crosswalks and raising medians, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.

Veronica Vanterpool, of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, wants more changes including adding intersections, reducing the width of the roadway and lowering the speed limit.

"What it does is encourage the cars to just drive more slowly," Vanterpool said.

A DOT spokesperson told Newsday that driver and pedestrian education is also needed to make the roadway safer.

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