Binghamton West Side Residents Complain About Car Crashes

Some people who live in a Binghamton neighborhood are expressing frustration over the number of vehicle collisions that have been happening near their homes.

The latest crash on Leroy Street happened Wednesday afternoon when two people were injured at the intersection with Millard Avenue.

In that collision, one vehicle wound up on its side and the other came to rest after traveling up an embankment next to the porch of a home.

The injuries in that crash did not appear to be serious. It was not known whether police issued any tickets in connection with the collision.

A long-time resident of the home closest to the scene told WNBF News Wednesday's crash was the fifth at the intersection over the last year.

The woman lamented that she no longer feels safe walking near her residence because of the prevalence of reckless driving in the neighborhood. She said despite the high number of crashes in the area, "nothing changes."

City police frequently respond to collisions on the eastern end of Leroy Street, although most don't result in serious injuries.

One of the most serious crashes in the neighborhood occurred in November 2019 four blocks west of Wednesday's collision.

A 70-year-old Binghamton man died and four people were injured in a crash at Leroy and Chapin streets.

22-year-old Elijah Burnside of Binghamton was charged with manslaughter after that collision. Police said a car driven by Burnside went through a stop sign at a high rate of speed and slammed into the vehicle driven by the man who died of his injuries.

Burnside is serving at 3 to 9 year sentence in a state prison after pleading guilty to the charge.

The City will work with BMTS on a review of the Leroy Street corridor. It’s one of the areas we hear about from residents concerning speeding and pedestrian safety.

Deputy Mayor Megan Heiman chairs the city's traffic board. In an email to WNBF News, she said the board looked at the intersection of Leroy and Chapin after a resident requested a review.

She said the board authorized some action including the installation of an oversized stop sign and advanced warning signs. No-parking zones also were extended to address sight-line issues at the intersection.

The traffic board meets on the second Thursday of the month in the City Council chambers.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.