A hit-and-run crash involving a teenage pedestrian in New Britain this week has stirred a contentious debate among city officials about whether the installation of speed humps would make the roads safer.
The crash was reported Monday just after 2:45 p.m. in the area of Broad and High Streets, where officers responded to the report of a 15-year-old being struck by a dark-colored vehicle that left the scene, according to the New Britain Police Department .
The juvenile suffered abrasions to his elbows and was treated by medics at the scene. He did not go to the hospital, police said.
“At this time, it appears that based on the facts and circumstances of the investigation the juvenile was at fault for the accident as it was determined that he ran into the road and did not utilize a crosswalk,” police wrote in a statement.
Police noted, however, that the driver involved will be charged with evading responsibility if identified. The crash remains under investigation.
On Thursday, Francisco Santiago, president of the New Britain Common Council, and Councilwoman Candyce Scott, issued a joint statement criticizing Mayor Erin Stewart and what they described as her lack of action to make the city’s streets safer.
“The Council is deeply saddened and outraged by this grievous event, which once again underscores the pressing need for immediate action to address the ongoing issue of speeding and reckless driving in our community,” the statement said. “It is unacceptable that our streets have become increasingly dangerous due to the disregard for traffic laws, putting the lives of our residents, particularly our children, at risk.”
According to Santiago and Scott, the Common Council and residents have made “repeated appeals” to Stewart and her appointed commissions to install speed humps in the city, but she has rejected the idea because of “reasons that remain unclear.”
“The council has continually advocated for the implementation of effective speed-reducing measures and additional safety mechanisms to enhance pedestrian safety, yet our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” Santiago and Scott said.
In response, Stewart issued a statement on Thursday saying that the council majority ”once again” chooses to be “purposely ignorant to the facts and unabashed in its attempts to deceive the public and media alike.”
“They are misleading you regarding the specifics of this case, and they are misleading you about our city-wide efforts to combat this problem,” Stewart said.
“Speed bumps will not fix this issue,” she continued. “They are not financially feasible and they cannot be distributed equitably. If members of the council are interested in really addressing this issue instead of grandstanding, I welcome them to the conversation that has been going on for years.”
Santiago argued in his statement that “quality of life for our residents is paramount” and that “ensuring their safety on our streets should be top priority.”
“The recent hit-and-run incident in the Broad Street area serves as a tragic reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive traffic safety measures to be implemented without delay,” Santiago said.
“We cannot continue to tolerate the rampant disregard for traffic laws that have plagued our city for far too long,” Scott added. “The safety and well-being of our community must not be compromised any further. We implore Mayor Stewart to reconsider her stance and take decisive action to address this critical issue.”
Stewart countered, saying her administration “has been extremely proactive in regard to public safety and has taken actionable steps to combat pedestrian vehicular incidents.”
“New Britain has invested over $40 million over the past decade into Complete Street work to improve road and pedestrian safety,” Stewart said. “We are in the process of creating a Vision Zero Task Force, in conjunction with the work of CRCOG, focused on creating a Safety Action Plan to address these concerns which will improve safety, reduce incidents, reduce serious accidents and fatalities.
“Additionally, we are in the process of vetting vendors for the installation of speed and red light cameras to help alleviate these problems,” Stewart added.
Santiago and Scott added that the Common Council “stands firm to its commitment to work collaboratively with the mayor and her administration to identify and implement effective solutions to combat speeding and reckless driving.”
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