By:Nick Buglione
The pedestrian, whose identity was not released by police, was crossing Hempstead Turnpike southbound at 3:34 p.m. when a 2004 Nissan Maxima headed eastbound on the road in the middle lane hit him, police said.
He suffered multiple injuries and was taken to NUMC where he was listed in critical but stable condition, police said.
The driver, who police only identified as a Westbury man, was not speeding and was not issued any summonses or charged with a crime. His car was, however, impounded for routine brake and safety checks.
ÒIn these particular accidents, where a pedestrian is struck, itÕs very difficult to gauge what a pedestrian is going to do,Ó said Police Officer Vincent Garcia, a spokesman for the Nassau County Police Department, emphasizing when someone is hit by a car, the driver is not automatically criminally liable.
Still, the accident underscored ongoing traffic concerns area residents and civic leaders have with Hempstead Turnpike.
This particular stretch of the thoroughfare is very busy, especially during the time of day the pedestrian was hit. With NUMC on the north side and various stores and businesses on the south side, people cross frequently at the Franklin Avenue intersection. A major artery linking two parkways in the areaÑthe Meadowbrook and the WantaghÑcars are prevalent throughout the day.
ÒItÕs one of the busiest roads in Nassau County,Ó said Richard Cardozo, president of the Carman Community Association, a civic group based in the Salisbury section of East Meadow. ÒYou canÕt make the cars go away.Ó
Cardozo said he and other civic leaders have been concerned about traffic safety on Hempstead Turnpike for years. As a longtime volunteer with the East Meadow Fire Department, he also noted that accidents on the roadway are not uncommon. ÒThe Fire Department certainly responds to enough accidents there,Ó Cardozo said.
Hempstead Turnpike is just one part of a much larger traffic safety issue in the East Meadow area, according to Helen Meittinis, president of the Community Association of Stewart Avenue.
From Old Country Road, heading south on Carman Avenue to Hempstead Turnpike, speeding and accidents are common, she said. There have also been myriad accidents and traffic safety issues logged over the years with nearby Salisbury Park Drive.
ÒWe have addressed the police on that, especially,Ó Meittinis said. ÒThey are aware of it and they have been working on it.Ó
Meittinis and other civic leaders have met on numerous occasions with Nassau County police about stepping up patrols on Hempstead Turnpike and other roadways.
ÒWeÕre doing what weÕve always done,Ó said Garcia, on the policeÕs Hempstead Turnpike traffic enforcement. ÒThere is no special targeting of this area.Ó
Garcia said police regularly patrol Hempstead Turnpike in marked and unmarked cars and monitor traffic speed with radar guns.
