Peekskill residents renew calls for improved pedestrian safety after fatal hit-and-run
The latest push comes after a fatal hit-and-run on the corner of North Division and Howard streets last Monday around 10 p.m., according to police.
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Peekskill residents are once again calling on the city to improve pedestrian safety.
The latest push comes after a fatal hit-and-run on the corner of North Division and Howard streets last Monday around 10 p.m., according to police.
The efforts are being led by Peekskill Walks, a community organization working to make the city's streets safer.
"It's really unfortunate...we're lacking a lot of pedestrian infrastructure here in Peekskill and we've been fighting for that for a while now," said Albert Vidal, a Peekskill resident and Peekskill Walks member.
Police say the 79-year-old man was taken to Westchester Medical Center after the driver hit him and sped off.
Peekskill Walks confirms the victim died a few days later.
"Perhaps this could've been preventable...In the past year we've had two dozen or so injuries, some of them critical, completely preventable," said Vidal.
Peekskill police has not yet responded to News 12's request for an update on the case and whether they have made an arrest since the night of the incident.
Community members are asking the city to add crosswalks to roads where they don't exist, repaint fainted lines on the streets, and improve traffic enforcement to target speeding, running red lights, and blowing past stop signs.
"It's not an isolated incident. I mean, this happens all over the city," said Vidal.
Peekskill resident Phyllis Senghaas was walking her dog along Division Street on Wednesday afternoon.
"We waited and [there were] lots of cars turning. We just really had to be very careful," she said.
A spokesperson for the city has not yet responded to News 12's request for comment.
But on Tuesday at the common council's work session, the board heard a presentation about authorizing to submit a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant.
Safe Streets for All is a federal program providing $5 billion from 2022-2026 to fund initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
The deadline for applications is July 10, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The board is expected to have a resolution at its next meeting next Monday to authorize that grant application.
