August 3, 2006 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Online Editor Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2006 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of One |
School bus hits Mount Airy home
Monday morning, around 8:30 a.m., a school bus with about a dozen children heading to Khepera Charter School in Mount Airy hit the front of twin homes, 7823 and 7825 Stenton Ave., after swerving a car that had run a stop sign at Phil-Ellena Street. Karen Pugh, resident of 7823 Stenton Ave., said she was sitting at her kitchen table towards the rear of the house eating breakfast when the whole house shook. She looked out the front window and saw the bus, which was imbedded in the brick around her front door. “At first I felt utter shock, then panic because the children [on the bus] were screaming and crying,” said Pugh, who called 9-1-1. All the children were taken to the hospital, according to police. Only two sustained minor injuries. Eye-witnesses said one boy looked like his nose was hurt, and another girl was grabbing her shoulder. The bus driver, approximately 30 years old, was also treated for injuries. The bus reportedly swerved a gold 2000 Mercury Grand Prix, driven by E. Johnson of Glenside, which had gone through the stop sign at Phil-Ellena Street and Stenton Avenue. Johnson claims that his breaks failed at the intersection. He was on his way to a funeral when the accident occurred. The bus allegedly struck the car, taking off the Mercury’s entire hood and leaving both front tires flat, then swerved on Stenton Avenue, bounding up a small incline, through a silver chain fence to the front door of the Pugh’s. The awning at 7825 Stenton Ave. was dented, and the bricks around the doorway of 7823 Stenton Ave. were damaged, but the police say there is no structural damage to the twin. Neighbors say the intersections along that strip of Stenton Avenue, from Johnson and Upsal Streets, are dangerous. According to Stanope Pugh, he and his family have been petitioning Councilwoman Marian Tasco (D-9th district) for a traffic light or stop sign on that corner for about 10 years.
Johnson, the driver of the Mercury, described the intersection at Phil-Ellena and Stenton as a “blind intersection,” and neighbors gathered at the scene were complaining of other accidents along that strip of road. “Every accident sends the car someplace else,” said Pugh, pointing to the different corners and properties that have experienced unexpected encounters with cars. “They don’t want to stop here, they just fly down the avenue. Something’s got to stop them before a child gets killed. We have children playing out here.” Councilwoman Tasco said, on Monday, that the corner of Phil-Ellena and Stenton “has been a problem since I’ve been in office [in 1988,] and even before then.” She said the streets department, which was unavailable for comment, shared a plan with her office for controlling the traffic along Stenton Avenue. The plan, parts of which have been implemented, includes a traffic signal at Stenton’s intersections with both Sedgewick Avenue and Phil-Ellena Street. The state’s Department of Transportation confirmed that there was a plan, but the traffic signal phase is at least a year away, said PennDOT spokesperson Gene Blaum. PennDOT will have to see and approve plans before the signals are placed because federal funds are involved. In the meantime, after Monday’s accident, Councilwoman Tasco has requested the streets department put up four-way stop signs at the intersections of Stenton Avenue with Phil-Ellena Street and Sedgewick Avenue until lights can go up. The tow truck arrived to the scene of the accident a little after 10 a.m. An investigation is being conducted to discover the true cause of the accident. Contact staff writer Kristin Pazulski at 215-248-8819 or Kristin@chestnuthilllocal.com. |
