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Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Two people were killed Sunday night in a fatal crash on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 17S in West Hempstead, according to News 12 reports. The deadly accident occurred on a stretch of roadway that local residents have grimly nicknamed “Blood Alley” due to the frequency of serious crashes in the area.
The fatal collision has prompted Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages to call for immediate safety improvements along the parkway, including increased police presence and major infrastructure upgrades. Solages is specifically advocating for stronger guardrails, wider lanes, and more space between vehicles to reduce the risk of high-speed crashes. “We’ve seen bodies thrown from mangled cars onto the surrounding areas of the Southern State Parkway. This is a major issue,” Solages said.
Local residents who live near the crash site say serious accidents have been a persistent problem for years. A nearby resident who has lived just off the parkway for two decades told News 12 that the danger is nothing new. “We’ve been here 20 years and seen major accidents at this curb once or twice a year,” the resident said. They are calling for stronger protective barriers along the roadway, saying the current fencing is inadequate to stop out-of-control vehicles.
“I would rather have a solid barrier up that protects us. We’ve had cars come barreling through — and it would also help with noise and pollution,” the resident added, describing how vehicles have previously crashed through existing barriers into residential areas.
Drivers who regularly use the parkway echo similar safety concerns. A driver who was traveling on the road the night of the fatal crash expressed frustration with the ongoing danger. “How many times does this have to happen? Enough is enough. When is it going to end?” the driver said, calling for immediate action to address the safety issues.
The safety concerns raised by residents and lawmakers are supported by recent crash data. A study released earlier this year by the online comparison service I-Select ranked the Southern State Parkway as the seventh deadliest road in New York state, highlighting the urgent need for safety improvements along this stretch of highway.
Location & Road Context
The fatal crash occurred near Exit 17S in West Hempstead, an area of the Southern State Parkway that has earned a notorious reputation among local residents. The stretch of highway has been dubbed “Blood Alley” by locals who say serious accidents happen far too often in this particular section. According to Long Island Traffic database records, this road has 131 recorded incidents, with recent entries including multiple roadwork operations and overnight crack sealing projects.
The Southern State Parkway serves as a major east-west thoroughfare across Nassau and Suffolk counties, carrying thousands of commuters daily between Long Island communities and New York City. The Exit 17S area in West Hempstead has become a particular concern for residents whose homes sit adjacent to the parkway, with some reporting that out-of-control vehicles have crashed through existing barriers into residential areas.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The New York State Department of Transportation responded to inquiries about the fatal crash with a statement emphasizing that the incident remains under active law enforcement investigation. “The safety of the traveling public is always the New York State Department of Transportation’s (NYSDOT) top priority and we continuously review safety measures in place on all our highways, including the Southern State Parkway,” the agency stated.
However, the DOT noted that it cannot comment further on the specific circumstances of Sunday night’s crash while the investigation is ongoing. “As this week’s tragic incident remains the subject of a law enforcement investigation, we cannot comment further,” the agency said. The DOT statement also emphasized that “safety is everyone’s responsibility and we urge motorists to drive responsibly, remain alert and do not drink and drive.”