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Parkway Fatalities: 20 in 10 Years
Tags: Burleigh, fatal accidents, garden state parkway
BURLEIGH — The accident that claimed the life of 24-year-old William B. Eckel two days before Christmas put the death toll on the Cape May County portion of the Garden State Parkway at 20 souls since 1999.
Although it was the only fatality on this county’s 27 miles of the Parkway for 2008, there were a total of 11 fatal accidents on all county roads here last year, according to figures from the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Statewide there were 597 fatalities in 562 accidents.
In August, the Herald published a story that detailed the infamy of Route 47 (27 fatal accidents) as this county’s deadliest highway, but noted that Route 9 (18) and the Parkway weren’t far behind.
Some unique features of the southern-most section of the Parkway make it a safety concern for motorists.
The Parkway is a 173-mile-long toll road managed by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority that runs from Cape May to New York through 50 municipalities in 10 counties. The only three traffic lights along the entire stretch are located at Exits 9, 10 and 11 in Middle Township.
Eight of the 20 accidents have occurred in the general vicinity of the lights between mileposts 7 and 14. An even more dangerous area has been in the northern part of the county with 10 fatal accidents between mileposts 19 and 26.
Local officials, including Dennis Township resident state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st), have been calling for Parkway fixes for many years.
“This accident was just another tragic example of how this area has been historically underserved. Since my days as Freeholder I have been advocating for improvements on the southern most portion of the Parkway,” Van Drew said in a release following the Dec. 23 crash. “We have had some success but we need to do much more. For too long the most southern portion of the GSP has been forgotten.”
The multi-million dollar plan to elevate the highway, remove the traffic lights and replace them with ramp interchanges is on target to be completed by 2012.
The latest fatal Parkway accident involved a southbound vehicle crossing a grassy median and colliding head on with a northbound vehicle.
In his release, Van Drew also called for a reconfiguration of the unprotected median strip along with other Parkway improvements including reconfiguration of the most southern terminus of the Parkway at the Route 109 intersection, temporary placement of rumble strips around the lights and at the terminus as well as full interchanges at Exits 6, 17, and 20.
In addition to the physical characteristics of the road, the amount of traffic appears to increase the likelihood of fatal accidents. Half of the fatal accidents on the Parkway have occurred between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the county’s population swells from the year round 100,000 to over half a million during the summer tourist season.
In October, the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety participates in the national “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day,” which is designed to bring to the forefront driving behaviors that can result in tragedies on the roadways.
“This effort goes a long way in helping to prevent the senseless loss of life that occurs nearly every day on New Jersey roadways,” Division Director Pam Fischer said in an Oct. 1 release. “By encouraging motorists to buckle-up, every ride; drive the posted speed limit; and avoid distractions for one 24-hour period, we can make our roads safer for everyone.”
For more information regarding fatal accidents and other state statistics, visit http://www.njsp.org/info/stats.html
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
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Comments (14)
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Tue, 01/06/2009 - 1:59pm - Posted by: Anonymous
There actually would be 21 fatal accidents ... they seemed to left out the accident on 12/14/2006 where Rt 109 and the GSP intersects heading into Cape May.
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 10:00pm - Posted by: Anonymous
to 1/5/09 1:04 pm AMEN
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 2:04pm - Posted by: Anonymous
We are all responsible for our own actions. It's time that the people of CM Co. stop blaming the State, or the County or the Townships/Boroughs for traffic accidents. Traffic accidents occur because SOMEBODY screwed up. They either drove too fast, of failed to stop or were inanttentive etc. The ROAD didn't make them screw up. I don't know how America became great, with all of these people who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. I do find in encouraging to see that some like-minded people commented. I guess I am not as alone as I thought. Now, if we could only get the sensible people to be as outspoken as the whiners, we might convince some people to drive safely.
The roads in Cm Co, are among the finest that I have ever traveled. Because of the topography of the County, most are darned near level. Most are well paved and adequately lighted. The GSP is a straight and level road that intersects at SH Blvd, with another straight and level road, controlled by traffic lights. If people speed and or disregard the traffic lights, it is the fault of the drivers, not to road, or whoever built and manintains it. Stop whining and take responsibility.
Sun, 01/04/2009 - 4:58pm - Posted by: Anonymous
To the person who said CMC is like a "3rd world country" because we are supposedly 15 years behind everywhere else...have you even traveled outside of New Jersey? Are you serious?! Get with it. After taking many vacations to the West Coast in different locations... NJ, CMC especially is a prime example of flat-planed, well lit, roadways with guardrails all over the place, even where they aren't neccesary. NJ has the safest roads I've think I've ever traveled on! Accidents happen...and alot of the time yes, people do things they shouldnt (drugs/drink/cell phone/etc.) and cause horrific accidents. The roadways are fine...it's the drivers!
Sun, 01/04/2009 - 2:00pm - Posted by: Anonymous
My prayer go out 2 all the one's that was involve in the accident.I will be praying four all off you my God bless all.
Sat, 01/03/2009 - 11:41pm - Posted by: Anonymous
pay poor tax
Sat, 01/03/2009 - 6:30pm - Posted by: Anonymous
drunk, dope, speeding, fighting, not paying attention, eating, phone, dark roads, too many hills, not enough, no painted lines. Exuse after excuse for being irresponsilbe at the wheel. whatever its an even 20- Van Drew and Leusner weren't in the car. They can't everyone's hand all the time. Be accountable for your own actions.
Sat, 01/03/2009 - 3:37pm - Posted by: Anonymous
I was on the parkway and passed this accident minutes after it occured. This accident had nothing to do with the traffic lights or lack of overpasses. It was a matter of someone losing control of their vehicle and crossing over the median. What they need to do is have plantings of trees etc. in the middle as the North Jersey area of the parkway has so that this doesn't happen! My deepest sympathy goes out to the families and the victims!
That being said people do need to drive more responsibly, this was on a straight road with no bends or anything else. The traffic was not even heavy that evening and all we could think is what happened? The road was dry and there was hardly any traffic!
Sat, 01/03/2009 - 1:26pm - Posted by: Anonymous
No one is resonsible for these accidents ecept those who cause the accidents. Maybe if people did not SPEED, or TAILGATE, maybe be MORE OBSERVANT when they drive or just plain USE A SEAT BELT maybe just maybe the count would not be 20.
and of all the vehicles who travel the GSP to work twice a day, all the summer traffic
each year, and just regular travel use, 20 deaths in 10 years is not a big precentage if looking at the big picture.
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 7:04pm your comment was a little harsh. it's not thier fault nor is it the roadways, the gsp is straight and flat. If people want to run red lights cause they don't see them because they are driving while day dreaming, or speeding so they can't stop in time or maybe some are caused by medical reasons for whatever the reason it's not fair to cast it all on officials or the road.
Sat, 01/03/2009 - 10:53am - Posted by: Anonymous
Enough with the blaming local political chuckleheads for the fact that people drive like idiots...too fast for conditions, too slow to keep with traffic, inattentively, irrationally, no signals, trying to sneak through traffic lights. Remember when the Parkway used to have an entrance at each side street in Court House??? Those were the days, a horrifying crash a week...wonder who was resonsible then? These intersections and lane merges didn't get set up overnight. Drivers are responsible for these crashes, not the stuffed suits.
Leusner and VD are about as responsible for these fatalities as you are.
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 8:28pm - Posted by: Anonymous
I can't believe there's only been 20 fatal crashes. It seems to me like there has been more on the parkway, especially between exits 9 and 11.
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 8:04pm - Posted by: Anonymous
Jeff Van Drew and Chuck Leusner are responsible for most of the deaths. If they did not kill the overpasses, we would have many of those people with us today. God will judge them I hope the people of Cape May County will also.
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 7:01pm - Posted by: Anonymous
Did the police ever find out what the cause of this accident was? Is Dana ok? The other 2 involved were only in the hospital for a couple of hours, contrary to reports, nothing serious or critical like Dana
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 6:37pm - Posted by: Anonymous
South Jersey is like a 3rd world country. Dark winding roads. This place is like 15 years behind everywhere else. Come on people its 2009, this county should start acting like it. Make this place better. Fix these poor roads and start saving people lives. Where do all of those high taxes go, obviously not the " modernization" department!