After Fatal Putnam Crash, Assemblyman Wants Review Of Parkway Exit And Entrance Ramps
CARMEL, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Another fatal wrong-way crash on a parkway has Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, D-Westchester County, calling for a complete review of all exit and entrance ramps.
Just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday, an SUV driving south on the northbound side of the Taconic State Parkway in the Putnam County town of Carmel struck and killed a motorcyclist, Jeffrey Divine, 22, of Stormville, police said.
Police were still investigating on Monday, but charges had been filed against the driver, Melida Espinal, 40, of Danbury, Connecticut.
"The DOT has to consider putting in signs over the entrances and exits at a level that can be seen by the person entering," Abinanti told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "If it's going into the exit, it should have a big sign that says: 'Exit. Do not enter."
Abinanti added that entrances and exits to parkways in Westchester are especially confusing.
The SUV in Sunday's crash likely entered the wrong way at Peekskill Hollow Road, which has a shared entrance and exit ramp with a double yellow line, Adams reported. There's a sharp curve and a one-way sign at the Taconic, but for some reason Espinal turned left, instead of right.
"The Taconic Parkway is a very dangerous road," New York State Police senior investigator Brian Hoff told CBS2's Lou Young.
"That particular area is difficult because once she made a left going southbound in the northbound lane there's no way she could turn around," Hoff added. "There's a stone wall on one side and a center guardrail in the middle, so there was no way she could turn around. She was stuck."
Espinal was unfamiliar with the area. Driver's who are familiar told Young they understand the mistake.
"They need to maybe put more signs, 'northbound,' 'southbound,' 'wrong way,' and it's dark. There's no lights, so I can understand if you're unfamiliar with the road how you could go the wrong way," Putnam Valley resident Sue Kovax said.
After the SUV collided head-on with Divine's bike, the motorcyclist apparently hit the wall along the roadway, police told The Journal News. Divine was pronounced dead at the scene.
The northbound lanes of the Taconic were closed for about five hours after the crash.
Friends of the dead man consoled each other Monday at the auto shop in nearby Peekskill where he worked. Divine, a mechanic, was heading home at the start of a new life, Young reported.
"He was finally doing good. He was doing real good. Got himself together and a good job and an apartment and everything. It's just tragic," a friend said.