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NJ Officials Seek To Improve Safety On 'Kill Hill'

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Jun 25, 2009 7:35 pm US/Eastern

NJ Officials Seek To Improve Safety On 'Kill Hill'

Over 100 Accidents Recorded On Mile-Long Stretch Of Road In The Last Decade

Reporting
Christine Sloan

RIVERDALE, N.J. (CBS) ―

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On May 18, a runaway dump-truck plowed into expecting mother Didi Bogert's car on Route 23 in Riverdale, N.J.

"It just came right at the driver's side door," Bogert said. "I skidded towards Route 23 North."

The accident occurred at the bottom of a steep, declining road known to New Jersey locals as "kill hill."

Bogert added she is still shaken up from the hit.

"The first couple of nights I think I had panic attacks because I couldn't cross the intersection at all," Bogert said.

Bogert's husband, Greg, is a Riverdale police offer, and his car's dashboard video camera has captured numerous trucks skidding down kill hill. In the past decade there have been more than 100 accidents on the infamous stretch of road, where the speed limit is 45 mph.

Sergeant Bogert believes measures have to be taken to improve the safety of drivers on kill hill.

"Right off the bat we're asking for a lower speed limit," he said. "We have other ideas like maybe an emergency lane at the bottom of the hill that stays empty."

Bogert estimated the hill is about one mile long. Its slope has been measured at a six percent decline, and a traffic light at a very busy intersection marks the bottom.

"(Trucks) have no place to go if they can't stop except to pick what car they're going to crash into," Sergeant Bogert said.

New Jersey Transportation Officials issued a statement reading, "We understand the serious nature of (the town's) concern and we're considering the feasibility of the requested changes."

The Department of Transportation also pointed out that it has placed signs on the roadway warning drivers of the slope, and plans to meet with Riverdale officials soon in order to discuss safety proposals.

Local officials are asking for a program that would allow police to stop and inspect trucks before they drive down the hill, but currently, only state police officers have the authority to inspect large vehicles.

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