Senior Pedestrians Watch Out!

Drew Scott

 If you're hoofing it in Nassau county, watch out!

 Seems, a brand new report identified Nassau as the state's second deadliest county for senior citizen pedestrians. According to the study, between 2005 and 2007, 39 seniors died at the hands of automobile drivers and buses. 21 seniors died in Suffolk!

 I interviewed Janet Matrejek of East Meadow. She nearly died five years ago while crossing the intersection of Front Street and Merrick Avenue in East Meadow. She told me a car struck her while she was in the cross walk with the green light. The impact sent her 30 feet into the air and down the street. It took her months to recover.

Other senior citizens at the Town of Hempstead center in East Meadow report similar close calls with cars while they were in the cross walk with the right of way! Their advice? Please, drivers SLOW DOWN!

Governor Patterson has ordered the Department of Transportation to implement an immediate study of dangerous intersections for pedestrians. They have also been ordered to make recommendations to make these intersections and roadways SAFER in the coming months and report back to the Governor.

A recommendation that Janet Matrejek says is long overdue.