NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Police say speed was a factor serious accident on Whalley Avenue in New Haven Friday morning that could have been far worse.
On a surveillance video, provided to FOX61 by Amity Safe & Lock, a car can be seen pulling out of a parking lot, in the 1300 block Whalley Avenue. In order the avoid hitting that car, a white Jeep that had to swerve to miss it.
However, in doing so, the Jeep, driven by a 26-year-old New Haven woman struck a utility pole, which came crashing down onto the Jeep’s roof.
“There are many accidents that happen right here on Whalley Avenue and it’s all right in front of our store,” said Patrick Blatchley of Amity Safe & Lock.
The woman driving the Jeep, who was the lone occupant, suffered only minor injuries.
“She’s very lucky,” Blatchley said. “You know, cars nowadays are a lot safer so I think that’s a good thing.”
FOX61 showed the surveillance video to other businesses along Whalley Avenue.
"Wow! Oh my God, that’s crazy,” said Joseph Gomez, of the Fresh Zone Barber Shop. “Bad accident right there.”
A common theme among business owners: drivers need to slow down on Whalley Avenue.
“It’s always people going like 40, 50, even 80, 80 miles an hour,” Gomez said.
So, he’s making a plea to police for more traffic enforcement.
“I’d say you know we could see probably maybe every two months, every three months there’s an accident in front of us,” said Blatchley.
According to police the driver of the Jeep was issued a ticket for driving too fast for the conditions.
