Village Estates residents in Amityville demand barriers after car crashes into property
A car lost control around 11 p.m. Sunday, crashed through a fence, knocked down trees and came to a stop in a resident’s backyard.
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Residents at an Amityville condo complex are calling for safety improvements after a car crashed off Sunrise Highway and into their property over the weekend.
Neighbors at Village Estates say crashes along that stretch of road have become far too common and fear it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.
A car lost control around 11 p.m. Sunday, crashed through a fence, knocked down trees and came to a stop in a resident’s backyard.
“When I looked out, there were the headlights looking right straight at me,” said resident Maria Realmuto, who was asleep when the crash happened.
Realmuto said the vehicle stopped just feet from her home and believes nearby trees prevented a far worse outcome.
“It was only about 20 feet away, and it would have come right through the house,” she said.
Residents say there have been multiple crashes into the property over the years and are urging state officials to install guardrails or other protective barriers along Sunrise Highway.
Anne Genovese said repeated crashes prompted her to speak out.
“My dear neighbor could have been hurt, so I said, 'I can’t sit still. I have to speak out,'” Genovese said.
The New York State Department of Transportation told News 12 it is advancing several safety improvements along that corridor, including reducing the speed limit on Sunrise Highway to 45 mph.
However, according to the DOT, federal standards do not currently warrant the installation of guardrails in that area.
