Village residents call for street improvements
Weekend accident leaves two children seriously injured
Just a day after an accident that sent two young Wellesley children to hospital, residents and township staff are looking at ways to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Wellesley Mayor Joe Nowak has already received emails from residents of the David Street area of Wellesley village, asking for more to be done to protect children on the street after an alleged impaired driver struck and seriously injured two children, ages three and seven, shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday.
Police say the vehicle, driven by a 55year-old Wellesley man, left the roadway and struck the two children, who were with their parent. He faces impaired and dangerous driving charges.
Both boys were taken to local hospital with serious injuries. One was later airlifted to Hamilton.
“I can’t believe that something like this would happen in the heart of town,” said Nowak. “On an expressway or highway or something like that … right in the heart of town? It’s beyond belief.”
Construction crews are already working on the road, which is scheduled to be repaved this summer.
Nowak said some conversations have occurred with Wellesley Township staff members to consider what can be done to keep such incidents from happening in the future.
Like much of the village, the road does not have sidewalks, nor does it have curbs. There are a number of sharp turns as the road curves around Wellesley Pond. There are also multiple signs that say “Watch for Children.”
“It’s frightening, it’s devastating,” said Nowak. “It puts me in tears just thinking about it. I think of my grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the kids and we hope and pray that they make it through this.”
Before any changes are approved, it would have to come back to council.
“Staff are going to have a very close look at it,” said Nowak.