New Traffic Lights Slated for Post Road Site of Collision

by Judy Silberstein

(Update: October 7 - Original publication date: October 5, 2002) Larchmont will be getting new traffic signal equipment at the Boston Post Road and Beach Avenue, but even the best equipment may not have prevented the Saturday afternoon accident at that spot. At around 1:15 pm the intersection was the scene of a two-car collision that resulted in the cars being towed away with smashed front ends and one driver, Lawrence Hoffman of Tuckahoe, being taken off by ambulance to the hospital. According to New Rochelle resident Jay Hollinsworth who witnessed the accident from his rearview mirror, he was traveling towards Larchmont in the left lane of the Boston Post Road followed by a Verizon van and a 1983 BMW driven by Brian Goman of Mamaroneck. The van stopped in the left lane to turn left onto Beach Avenue. Meanwhile, Mr. Hoffman in a 1991 Geo Storm traveling towards New Rochelle on the Post Road attempted to make a left turn onto Beach and collided with the BMW that had come around the Verizon van and was continuing through the intersection. The light was green for Post Road traffic at the time of the collision.

It took some time and effort to extricate Mr. Hoffman from his vehicle, because of difficulty opening the damaged front doors. He sustained what appeared to be minor injuries to his left leg and right arm, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Mr. Goman ws arrested as an "unlicensed driver," a misdemeanor, and released after posting $40 in bail.

Neighbors from nearby houses and realtors from the corner Burbank/Whittemore office streamed out of their doors to witness the accident and voice complaints about the dangers of the intersection. “Not only is there an imminent tragedy awaiting us at this intersection,” said realtor Penny Weiner, “but any pedestrian crossing the corner is at risk due to the frequency of accidents occurring at the Boston Post Road and Beach Avenue.”

The realtors talked about the time a large truck plowed through the intersection and ended up in their ornamental bushes. The more usual incident, they reported, occurs when cars trying to turn collide with cars trying to beat the light. Others cited the problem of afternoon glare blinding westbound drivers as they approach the light. However, neither changing lights nor glare appeared to be a factor in the Saturday incident.

“The response of the Police and Fire Departments was exemplary,” said Emmy Lou Sleeper, principal realtor at Burbank/Whittemore. The police were there almost immediately, and the fire department followed very quickly. “We’ve reported problems with this intersection to the police numerous times to no avail,” said Weiner, “and the Police Department has logged them to no avail.”

Larchmont Traffic Commission Chairperson Doris-Patt Smith recognized the long-standing community concern with the Beach and Post Road intersection. “After years of the Traffic Commission and Chief Rubeo asking the state to improve the intersection,” she announced, “we have just learned that New York will be upgrading the lights. They will replace the poles, the lights and the pedestrian push buttons, and will add a new walk/don’t walk signal at each corner. Also, the light will have a larger face, which may help to reduce the glare problem.”

Send this page to a friend

Discuss this topic in our forums, or send a letter to the editors.