State Seeks To Reassure Drivers After Falling Rocks Threaten Westchester Woman

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Tons of rock rained down on a highway and a Westchester woman narrowly escaped serious injury.

On Friday, the state department of transportation was trying to reassure drivers, many of whom no doubt pass the 'falling rocks' sign on the Saw Mill River Parkway with little thought for the danger looming ahead.

"You see signs for 'falling rocks' and it really doesn't register that it's something that could be a potential hazard," one driver told CBS2's Tony Aiello.

Forget potential. It became an actual hazard on Wednesday night, when tons of rock fell from the cliffs that line the parkway and destroyed an SUV as it came around the bend.

"I remember them taking me out of the car and I see rocks and boulders everywhere. I could have died," Antonia Georgiudakis, said.

Mike Kaplowitz, the Chair of the Westchester Legislature, said the state told him that the 'freeze that cycle' over the winter and trees growing on the cliffs caused the rockfall.

On Friday, crews were trimming trees and still removing rock from the road and shoulder.

The DOT said that rock falls are a rare occurrence and is confident there is no imminent danger.

A spokeswoman told CBS2's Aiello that engineers and geologists visited the sit and additional safety measures such as rockfall protection netting do not appear warranted.

"Certainly they are on notice that this is a bad spot given the rock sheer up against the highway. There's really no margin of error and they need to on a regular basis check this," Kaplowitz said.

The DOT said crews drive past that stretch every day looking for signs of trouble.

The Saw Mill River Parkway was built to design standards of the 1930s. The DOT said if it was newly constructed today, more of the rock face would be cut away from the roadway.