There is terrible news out of Wantagh, NY, where Newsday reports that 14-year-old Brittany Vega was struck and killed while crossing Sunrise Highway on her way to school this morning. Sunrise Highway, a state road, is the second-deadliest road for pedestrians in the entire NYC metropolitan region according to a TSTC analysis. (The deadliest is Hempstead Turnpike, also on Long Island.) Per the article:
The freshman was struck by a westbound car as she tried to cross Sunrise near the intersection of Wantagh Avenue at 6:20 a.m. She was pronounced dead 35 minutes later at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, leaving behind a backpack on the sidewalk – and a grieving family, who thought she was headed safely to school on the bus.
“She wasn’t allowed to cross that big road,” [mother] Sandi Vega said at the family home on Beech Street, just a few blocks south of the crash scene.
“I was very protective that way,” she said, crying.
Sunrise Highway has much in common with other dangerous roads. It is what traffic engineers call an “arterial” — a wide road that is designed for speed and is difficult to cross — but runs through population centers and is lined with stores and destinations that generate pedestrian traffic.
The Newsday writers repeatedly mention that, by walking to school, Vega apparently disobeyed her parents. The victim-blaming emphasis is sad, but far sadder is the fact that her parents had to forbid her from crossing Sunrise Highway in the first place. Something is seriously wrong when getting to class on foot is too dangerous for a high-school student.
Long Island municipalities have begun to embrace “complete streets” policies that commit them to designing roads for all users. The Long Island office of NYSDOT (Region 10) is improving pedestrian safety in a few places where senior citizens are concentrated, and experimenting with a less pedestrian-hostile design for Route 347. But these alone are not a sufficient response to Long Island’s safety issues. Region 10 is not moving with the necessary urgency, and a state complete streets measure has been blocked in the State Assembly (Wantagh is represented by Assm. David McDonough). Change needs to happen much faster.
rest in peace vega.
RIP brit, I love you and miss you already.
I live nearby in Amityville and totally understand how dangerous this road is. The DOT has refused to address the dangerous situation on this road by not making it even remotely biker or pedestrian friendly. It’s a joke!! They redesigned the road routing in Massapequa and made the traffic and biker, pedestrian access even worse!!!
Prayers to this girls family, there was a reason why they wanted her to avoid this road, made even worse by distracted drivers on their cellphones and the increasing numbers of elderly drivers.
Brit, you were an amazing friend. I still cant believe youre gone. I love you & miss you. She was beautiful, & sweet & smart. She loved her family & her siblings. <3 Rest easy girl
R.I.P baby girl you will be forever missed<3 singing will never ever be the same :(
Britt, rest easy girl. You were such a sweet, happy girl & a good friend. <3
I know who did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rest in Peace, Brittany. I hope the card I tapped on to your memorial will symbolize the greatness that you are. I know we didn’t spend a lot of time together but I know for a fact that you were one of the greatest people I knew.
Rest easy, Love, Ricky
i never met you brittany but my friends know you.
you seem like one special person
Rest in Peace
you and your family are in my prayers
i know what it feels like to lose someone special…its not fun but brittanys laughin at all of you cryin right now
Brittany I don’t know you but you are from my school R.I.P we all miss you you and your family are in my prayers.
R.I.P Brittany. We all miss you and you are in my prayers. I’ll always remember the fun we had at our French festival! xoxo
Brittany, i never met you, i didnt even know who you were until i saw this, some of my friends are friends with you and told me what happened, and i am so sorry. i know you didnt deserve what has happened to you, its so sad and i really wish i had met you and became good friends with you. we will all miss you, rest in peace ♥
We met you for a short time in Keen Lake where my son and friends played with Brittany while mom and dad took care of little brother. You are all very special people and we are so sorry for your loss. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Brittany. God Bless you all. Keep the good memories up front. Brittany was a beautiful person.
Kathy,Bill and Collin Porter
[…] High-School Freshman Killed Crossing NYC Region’s Second-Deadliest Road (MTR) […]
Danny & Sandi,
I am so sorry for the sudden horrific loss of your beautiful girl.
I pray that every time your heart aches, the hurt is softened by happy memories of your time together, and the overwhelming sadness is over come by the smile of a memory.
May find some peace in your hearts knowing she is with God in heaven, where there is nothing but love & happiness, and where you will all be together again one day for eternity.
R.I.P. Brittany
God Bless You All
Maria (Elisseou) Seminara
Rest in Peace Brittany – So sad such a promising young life was extinguished before it even began. Your family is in my prayers just as sure as you are in God’s hands.
I am deeply saddened to hear of this young women’s death. My heart goes out to you and your family. I hope this motivates Nassau county and NY to address these problems with Sunrise Highway. Pedestrians and cyclists need to be able to cross roads like this safely.
This morning I used the crosswalk as she did. However, I pushed the pedestrian button and waited. From the moment the white “walk” symbol appeared to the next movement of traffic on Sunrise Highway there were 40 seconds, about 10 more than I needed to cross the street. As I frequently cross there, I find the greater problem comes from cars making a south-to-west turn. They violate NY State law by not yielding if a pedestrian is anywhere in the crosswalk. Drivers in Manhattan yield to pedestrians more regularly than do drivers in Wantagh.
I don;t know if you knew me of if I knew you, but I definatly remember you in one way or another. R.I.P sister, Our prayers are with you, your parents, and with your friends.
I didn’t know you, but from what I heard and from what I’ve seen, you are a beautiful person inside and out. This should have never happened and my prayers are with you, your family, as well as your friends.. Fly high, and rest in peace. You will NEVER be forgotten Brittany <3
You were such a responsible, caring, always happy, bubbly mind, responsible kind of a teenager. You will never be forgotten in Wantagh. Everyone misses you terribly. My prayers are with you your family and friends. I know they loved you very well. Rest In Peace<3
I didn’t know Brittany or her family. My heart aches for you all. I have a daughter Brittanys age and don’t know how I would go on without her. She must have been something quite unique for GOD to have called her home so soon.
even though i did not know u,I am so sorry about what has happened. R.I.P GOD BLESS YOU!
Not sure if u remembered me, we went to preschool together, anyway rest in pease brittany. We all miss you so much right now. We’ll always remember you!!!
It still doesn’t feel real to me. You are such a great friend, and never a sad person. You always knew how to cheer people up and you always had a smile on your face. Love you britt! You’re always in my prayers. Rest In Peace<33
I grew up in Wantagh, when my brother was 17 years old he was hit by a car on Sunrise Highway, just west of the Wantagh Pkwy. He was not killed but severely injured.
Now, I live in Massapequa Park with my two children, John 17 and Kristen 14. John did not get the bus to the H.S., he had to cross Sunrise Hwy. I drove him as many times as I could. Between the sun-glare from the east, people rushing to work, trucks, etc., it is a recipe for disaster. Even worse is that there is NO CROSSING GUARD.
My heart goes out to the Vega family and all of you who were luckey enough to know Brittany. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
i knew her cousin hes mad sad i am 2
Brittany, i did not know you but i went to school in your district, i am so terribly sorry for you and your family . and my deepest sympathy goes out to the Vega family right now , thoughts and prayers are with you.
brittany – you will NEVER be forgotten , fly high girl , RIP <3
heyy, we didnt know eachother, but we both knew this girl, and when i found out what happened, i couldnt believe it. im so sorry, i know you didnt deserve this. rest easy, RIP
I am deeply saddened by the sudden end to your life . I pass by that corner daily and think how sad it is that such a young life was taken . RIP ….
we didn’t know each other .. but rip♥
i missssssssssss you vega your not dead!you cant be.
i was in love with you iknow you werent bi or anything like that and im not afraid to admit that i love you and always will.R.I.P BRITTANY VEGA you were amazing.
youll never be forgotten and youll keep our hearts strong so fly high above and sing us a sweet song.
britt, i miss you so much, the day of your wake i went back to your house and tought your sister how to skatebored, when she told me that you were the one who gave it to her i started crying, britt, we all knbow that you are an angel now, but this shouldnt of happened to you, you were the nicest person in this world, love you
-shannon
I find it eases my pain a little to write how I feel about my beautiful Brittany Lee. I see how much she loved everyone and it makes me even more proud of her than I already was. I always taught her to be kind to everyone. I would make her sooo happy to see everyone grouping together without the need for titles(nerd, popular, gay…)She liked everyone equally and just asked to be respected and liked back. So for all that really cared for her, befriend everyone like Brittany did. Talk to the quiet kids along with the popular kids, you’ll get such a sense of worth when you do that. Every child deserves to be given a chance at having a good life. No one deserves to be left out. If we want to keep Brittany alive in our hearts and never forget her, then emulate her being. Think twice about saying a rude comment and force yourself to say something nice instead. Please, if I ever asked for anything from anyone I would want THIS for my families healing. Stop the hating that goes around in school and at homes and replace it by “Brittany”. I think we all know what that means by now. Doing that would mean Brittany was everywhere still helping everyone like she always used to.
Brittany, I miss you so much. Remember all the good times we had last year? This year too. I miss you sitting next to me everyday. Everything feels so empty with out you. I still cannot get over the fact your gone. I love you<3. Fly to the stars little angel [:
Vega I cnt belive this happened to u… The day befor u where telling me I would be okie as a cryer about a boy and the nxt day ur gone…. Now I cry over u every day <3 I love u allways and forever
[…] appallingly, the report highlights the death of a 14-year-old girl who was trying to cross Sunrise Highway on Long Island as an example of pedestrian fault. Anyone familiar with that roadway knows that an […]
[…] Vega was 14 years old and was walking to school when she was struck and killed by a car last fall on Sunrise Highway, a multi-lane road that passes through Wantagh, on Long […]
Brittany,you have been gone for 165 days. I still can’t believe that it’s true. I miss you.
[…] to improve street safety since her daughter Brittany was killed while crossing Sunrise Highway last year. Sandi contacted Tri-State several months ago, and has been speaking out for local intersection […]
[…] the most powerful letters to the governor comes from Sandy Vega. Vega’s daughter Brittany was killed last year while crossing Long Island’s Sunrise Highway, the second-deadliest road in the New York […]
[…] also said that the announcement was a time to remember Brittany Vega, who was tragically killed last year while walking to school on Sunrise Highway, on Long Island. Brittany’s mother, Sandi Vega, […]
[…] a profound measure of credit goes to Sandi Vega. Vega’s daughter Brittany was killed last year walking across Long Island’s SunriseHighway, one of the region’s very deadliest roads. […]
[…] county’s second most dangerous road—needs attention, too. The road has been the site of frequent pedestrian tragedies, and yesterday around 60 people gathered to rally for a “child safety zone” on a section that […]
Vega it has almost been 2 years since your gone and it still hurts so much to know that you are not here with us anymore. its scary knowing that we are going into junior year and you are not here with us, i cant imagine graduating and not seeing your smiling face receiving your diploma. you were an amazing friend and whenever anyone needed you whether they were friends with you or not you were always there for everyone, even if someone just needed a hug you gave it to them. you made me feel like less of a loner you always talked to me in school and waved to me in the hallway, you made me believe people actually liked talking to me, thank you so much for making me feel important you dont know how much that means to me i will NEVER forget you Brittany <3
I never even met you and you changed my life in so many different ways. You impacted my life more then any other living person has. I traveled 1,369 miles just to go visit you. The trip was exhausting and had a lot of bad moments but it was all worth it. Everyday I wish I could have been there to push you out of the way. I would have given up my life to save yours and id still give up my life today to bring you back to your family and friends. Your going to be remembered forever even a million years from now your memory will be kept alive. You and your family is ALWAYS in my thoughts and prayers.
I still pray for Brittany & her family every morning as I pass the corner on my way to work. I’m happy to read she has a baby brother. Seems like Brittany was loved by all!! RIP Brittany, continue to watch over your family & friends!