Bay Ridge man demands changes to intersection where his wife was nearly killed

A Bay Ridge woman was severely injured after getting struck by a vehicle at Ridge Boulevard and Marine Avenue, and her husband is now demanding that the city revamp the oddly-configured intersection to improve its safety.

On Friday, February 24, Monica Savage-Kanter was crossing the street there when a 94-year-old driver struck her. Monica sustained severe injuries and, according to husband Danny Kanter, could have lost her life. Now, he wants fast and dramatic changes to the intersection.

“I almost lost the love of my life because she was hit by a lady who was not looking,” he said. “That almost killed her. She’s lucky to be alive but was hurt very badly.”

Savage-Kanter suffered a broken leg and ankle.

“It’s a very bad intersection,” he added. “Cars do not stop at the stop signs and there’s only one crosswalk. It’s triangular and there’s a big safety zone in the middle of it. It’s the most unusual intersection you can ever see.”

Savage-Kanter, who lives nearby, had gone shopping on the Friday afternoon when the accident occurred.

“She had a wagon with her and she decided to start to cross,” he added. “The next thing she knew, she was on the hood of that lady’s car. [The driver] had taken a left turn very quickly and apparently wasn’t looking and she hit her very hard. She had to be taken to NYU Lutheran.”

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Kanter has spoken to elected officials and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), requesting that changes be made to the intersection, including stop lights.

“It’s amazing that no one has gotten killed at that intersection already,” he added. “I walk across that intersection and I have to yell stop so I can walk across. Otherwise, cars fly right through. Someone is going to get killed there. My wife almost was.”

Also frustrating to Kanter is that the city appears to be taking its time in evaluating the intersection for changes. “[Local elected officials] and I put in requests to the DOT,” he said. “They advised it takes up to four months to determine whether they can take away the stop sign and put up traffic lights.”

A DOT spokesperson told this paper, “We can confirm a traffic signal study is underway at this location.” However no timeline was given on when it would be concluded.

“I was hoping it would be sooner,” Kanter added. “My main issue is I don’t want anyone else to go through what we’re going through. I’m taking care of my wife 24/7. She still can’t walk. Her leg is so weak from being inactive that she isn’t able to put any weight on it.”

Three months following the accident, Savage-Kanter, 59, remains in physical therapy and continues to gain strength slowly in her leg.

Kanter is grateful to still have his wife after the accident at the intersection almost took her life. “We’ll celebrate 10 years of marriage on June 2 and I’m glad we are going to be able to celebrate it because it could have been a funeral,” he said.

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