Safety of Grand Island intersection, once again, called into question

Grand Island, N.Y. (WBEN) - Earlier this week, tragedy struck at the intersection of Broadway and Beaver Island Parkway on Grand Island, as Leah Mayer, an eighth grade student at Veronica E. Connor Middle School, was hit and killed by a vehicle.

This incident is now raising even more concerns about the safety of that intersection and others across the region.

Grand Island resident Julie Deuble, who lives close by to the intersection, believes more is needed there to improve safety.

"I think having something more than a flashing light. It seems like they added signage in the past couple of years, bright yellow, green signs. I think that has gotten better, but it's like, put the tools there to help mitigate the risk, because it is such a busy intersection," said Deuble in an interview with WBEN.

There are no stop lights or turns along the majority of the Beaver Island Parkway, allowing drivers to achieve high speeds with little worry about what is ahead.

"It's a drag strip," Deuble exclaimed. "You hear it in the summers, if you're out in your backyard. At my house, you can hear motorcycles most often. You hear people flying down the parkway."

As of now, the intersection consists of a two-way stop on Broadway, and a blinking yellow caution light on the Beaver Island Parkway.

Another intersection by Grand Island High School on Ransom Road was remedied a few years ago to help with traffic both on the road and students walking to school.

"A couple years ago, they put stop signs on Stony Point at Ransom, which is where the middle school and the high school are. They put stop signs there on Stony Point, and I think that's been a huge help, because of the traffic flow through there," Deuble said.

A petition has been created, asking officials in Grand Island and the New York State Department of Transportation to take action and install a traffic light and crossing signals at Broadway and Beaver Island Parkway.

The investigation into the accident is still ongoing.