Wellsville Police plan targeted enforcement, speed trailer
By Andrew Harris
Not long ago an employee of Giant Food Mart was leaving work after a shift and as she crossed Dyke Street, a car going way to fast hit her, hard. Luckily the only injury was a painful broken arm.
Longtime Giant team member Christie VanSkiver is and has been worried about the speedy drivers. She has had plenty of close calls of her own and feels the next accident could be deadly.
“I don’t want people getting hurt and it is a trending issue all around this part of downtown,” said VanSkiver.
As a volunteer at the nearby Fassett Greenspace, the section of Park Avenue and West Fassett is a busy place. Between Pizza King, Park Plaza Liquors, and Giant Food Mart is a ninety degree blind curve that often features race car drivers who seem to be in a big hurry. Bicycles, personal scooters, student pedestrians, and a nearby elderly population are often involved in ‘near misses.’ A new restaurant is set to open soon, the Stillwater, which will only add to the traffic count in that area. If it isn’t the busiest part of town already, it soon will be.
Chief of Police Timothy O’Grady acknowledged that it isn’t the place for high speed driving:
“We will be doing a more focused enforcement efforts and will place the village “speed trailer” in a high profile location to try and slow traffic down in that area.”
O’Grady noted that drivers who frequent that section of village streets should set the example and slow down.
Nick Kusmerski, owner of Giant Food Mart applauded the plan to make downtown Wellsville a safer place to work and shop:
“We really appreciate Chief O’Grady’s willingness to help keep the business district and our loyal customers and associates safe, especially as we enter the busy holiday season.”
