Lawmakers Demand Changes After 2 Deadly Accidents In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Residents and local lawmakers demanded changes at a deadly off-ramp in Queens after two separate accidents in the past two weeks left two people dead.
The latest tragedy happened early Wednesday morning, when a driver lost control while exiting the lower level of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.
The vehicle crashed into the same store that was damaged by another car that struck and killed a pedestrian on March 28.
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WCBS 880's Marla Diamond has more on the accidents' aftermath
Coming off the bridge into Queens, drivers are confronted by jersey barriers, merging traffic and a sharp right turn. If they're driving too fast, locals said, it's a recipe for disaster.
Local politicians said the Department of Transportation's changes to traffic patterns were to blame.
"As the work is getting done, make sure that traffic safety is brought into account more than it has," State Senator Michael Gianaris said. "And for goodness sake, when there's been a series of accidents like this, make sure you accept responsibility and fix the problem so that it doesn't happen again."
The Department of Transportation said safety is always a priority, and pointed to new signs in place reminding drivers of the 30 mile per hour speed limit. They said they will also add rumble strips.
