Queen Street Speed Bump Installation Urged

By Andrew Gorosko

The parents of an 8-year-old boy who was struck and seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident on Queen Street last October attended a Police Commission meeting this week to urge that the town promptly install speed bumps on Queen Street to slow down motorists on that mile-long road that links Church Hill Road to Mile Hill Road.

Terence Trow, MD, and his wife, of 10 Pinnacle Drive in Dodgingtown attended a January 2 Police Commission session to urge that the town soon install speed bumps along Queen Street.

Last October 17, the Trows’ son was crossing Queen Street near its intersection with Borough Lane when the boy was struck by a vehicle that then drove off southward, without the driver stopping to check on the boy or to report the accident.

Police have been investigating the incident, but have not made any arrests in the case.

Dr Trow said that the injuries his son received were so serious that they nearly proved fatal to the boy, who is recovering.

There have been too many accidents on Queen Street, Dr Trow said in urging that speed bumps be installed there to reduce motorists’ travel speeds.

“We don’t want to see this happen to anyone else,” Dr Trow said.

Dr Trow said that perhaps First Selectman Joseph Borst will handle the speed bump request more urgently than did former first selectman Herb Rosenthal.

Police Commission member Bruce Walczak said the issue of speed bump installation is pending before the Legislative Council, adding that the council’s process to create local ordinances for such a purpose is a lengthy one.

 Acting Police Commission Chairman Robert Connor suggested that the Trows attend a Board of Selectmen’s meeting to press for speed bump installation on Queen Street. Mr Connor said he favors installing such devices on the street to reduce travel speeds.

 Dr Trow said that after the accident occurred, police told him that his son was not in a crosswalk when the collision took place. But there are no crosswalks in that area, Dr Trow pointed out. In Connecticut, pedestrians have the right-of-way over motorists when the pedestrians are in crosswalks.

Dr Trow again urged that town install speed bumps on Queen Street to prevent similar accidents from occurring again. “I’m concerned,” he said.

Following the accident, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps members responded to the scene and then transported the boy to Danbury Hospital for treatment of injuries, including damage to his right leg, left ankle and calf, plus facial abrasions and contusions, according to police.

The recent Queen Street Area Traffic Improvement Plan recommended the installation of speed bumps on Queen Street. Traffic safety on Queen Street has been a focus of Police Commission meetings for the past several years.

Police have asked anyone who has information that would help them in their investigation of the hit-and-run collision to contact them at 426-5841 or 270-8888.