UWS Residents Call For Change After Another Pedestrian Fatally Struck
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A pedestrian was hit and killed on the Upper West Side Thursday in the same neighborhood as several other accidents this year.
As CBS 2's Cindy Hsu reported Friday, the latest victim was 61-year-old Jean Chambers.
Chambers, a wife and mother, was killed Thursday morning at West 95th Street and West End Avenue after being hit by a black SUV making a left turn as she crossed the street in the cross walk.
Chambers' friends and family are in shock over her death, Hsu reported.
"It's just, I miss her so much already. What a wonderful person. Much love to her," said Jane Burbank.
"There was something in her that was so sweet and loving and funny," said Maxine Spector.
The driver of the SUV has not been charged in the crash, and residents say something needs to change.
"These drivers need to be more careful man. They think the street is just for them," said West Side resident Eric Estrada.
"A better light system, a speed bump, more signage," suggested West Side resident Lisa Walters Valera.
This year alone there have been four traffic deaths within a two-block radius of this most recent tragedy, Hsu reported.
The youngest victim was 9-year-old Cooper Stock who was hit and killed just two blocks away by a taxi cab in January.
Last month, Cooper's Law was passed, which established that taxi drivers can now have their license suspended when involved in a deadly accident.
City Council member Helen Rosenthal is now fighting to expand the law to include all drivers.
"Any driver, should they kill or seriously injure a pedestrian or a bike rider, they're license should be suspended," Rosenthal said.
CBS 2's Hsu spoke with Cooper's mother, who said while tougher laws need to be passed, the key is to make sure they're enforced, and that both drivers and pedestrians need to be extra vigilant.
Rosenthal said she hopes to introduce the resolution to expand Cooper's Law in the fall.
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