Concerns over truck traffic on secondary roads in Yates County have resurfaced after a tractor-trailer crash in Branchport last weekend. Authorities say the 66-year-old Virginia driver was traveling east on Italy Hill Road when he failed to stop at the Guyanoga Road intersection. The truck overturned, striking gas pumps at Branchport Auto, downing power lines, and causing a fuel leak. The accident left area residents without power for more than 12 hours.
Patrick Killen, who represents the Branchport area in the county legislature, has acknowledged growing public concerns about truck safety on local roads.
There’s been a lot of discussion about truck traffic on Belknap Hill, speeds of vehicles on Belknap Hill and Italy Hill roads, and recent accidents, ” said Killen at Tuesday’s Yates County Legislature meeting. “I’ve spoken with the Sheriff about this. He’s going to take some steps with some of his staff to see what they can do about it. I’ve tried to explain to some of the people having gone through an analysis of speeds before, that it is very unlikely, even if we had a request in and had the state engineers assist that they (the state) would reduce the speed limit.”
The speed limit in Branchport where last Friday’s accident occurred is 30 mph.
Killen said they could also look into having GPS systems reroute tractor-trailer traffic off these secondary roads.
At last word from the sheriff’s office, charges against the driver from last Friday’s crash are pending.
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