Reader Feedback: Calls for Hoffman-Broadway Light Following Fatality

A Lindenhurst woman – Carolyn Rommel, 47 – was recently struck by a vehicle driven by 75-year-old Eleanore Christie at the intersection of South Broadway and West Hoffman Avenue.

Rommel later died of her injuries at . No charges have been filed against Christie.

After reading about this story on Lindenhurst Patch and the update , residents shared concerns on the site and on Facebook about the intersection, many calling for a traffic light.

Here’s what they had to say:

LindyMom*4: “A traffic light there will not do anything, drivers need to realize that there are people who walk and should watch for them. I know first-hand that drivers don't watch for people. I will wait, and let people cross the street because that’s what you should do. And I got honked at by the car behind me. Some people need a refresher course in drivers’ education.”

debbi: “We need a traffic light there and no parking in the front of the stores between South Fourth and South Broadway. It’s a very difficult intersection to get out of from Broadway.”

Bill Smith: “On cars killing people – here's an interesting observation: Our government spends billions of our tax dollars on airport security to stop one possible shoe bomber that might, I repeat, might, take down an airplane and kill a few hundred people; although, luckily, it hasn't happened yet. But we can't get traffic lights that will save lives every day, or safer cars, or safer roads and highways where 50.000 people die every year. In the U.S. that's one death every 13 minutes, about equal to a jumbo jet crashing and killing everyone on board every few days.”

Jacqueline Milton: “It’s just very sad that Carolynn Rommell died from her injuries. They say the pedestrian is ‘always right,’ but not in this case. She paid the ultimate price. Maybe a crosswalk like on Wellwood Avenue would help, then the cars turning off of Hoffman Avenue, coming from either direction, would have to wait for the pedestrians crossing South Broadway.”

Dolores McKee Otten: “I moved to Lindenhurst 33 years ago – South Ninth Street, and the Continental Restaurant was there – we had accidents there almost every night. We went to Babylon Town and Lindenhurst Village requesting a light. We were told five fatalities before a light would go up. The last light coming east is by Dairy Barn then nothing until Broadway. They use it like a raceway. Sixty five is the new 45. Still no light.”

Mike Salerno: “Broadway and Hoffman doesn't need a light. If you need to make a left, then go over a few blocks to Fifth Street or even Eighth Street, or use Wellwood. There's already enough lights on Hoffman, and it’ll only make people race to beat the light. A ‘No Left Turn’ sign would be more appropriate. Besides, that wouldn't help what happened in this article. If the light were green, and the person made a right turn, and someone was stepping off the curb at the same time, same result, light or no.”

Lori: “How many more people have to get hurt and/or die before they put a light there! What do we do about this?”

Jackie Milton: “Seems part of the problem is, I am told, is that West Hoffman is a county road and South Broadway is a Village road. There needs to be a traffic light there….Guess we need to find out how to get the two municipalities to do something.”

What do you think? Share in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter, or e-mail barbara.loehr@patch.com.