Estate of woman killed in New Haven motor vehicle accident files notice of intent to file claim against city

Feb. 27--NEW HAVEN -- The estate of a Waterbury woman who died when a car hit her on a sidewalk on South Frontage Road last month has filed a notice with the city of intent to claim her death resulted from an improperly designed intersection.

A notice of claim obtained by the New Haven Register said Melissa Tancredi's estate intends to pursue action against the city of New Haven following the fatal Jan. 17 car crash on the sidewalk at the York Street and South Frontage Road intersection. Tancredi died when a car a 29-year-old Hamden woman was driving in the left-turn only lane of South Frontage Road continued forward and struck Tacredi. Tancredi had been standing on the sidewalk when she was struck.

New Haven police spokesman Officer David Hartman said Monday the crash remains under investigation. City spokesman Laurence Grotheer did not respond to requests for comment.

Southington Attorney Anthony Alan Sheffy is representing Tancredi's estate. Sheffy responded to an email inquiry but declined further comment on potential litigation. The claim cites a state statute that says people injured by "defective roads and bridges," may recover damages as a result.

"At this time we are not in a position to discuss the matter (in) any detail more than set out in the notice given to the city," Sheffy said in the email. "As the facts of the case develop over the next few months, we may be able to make a statement at that time."

According to the claim, the, "sole proximate cause of the accident was the improper design of the intersection, making it dangerous and defective from the onset." The claim is dated Feb. 13.

"The City of New Haven knew or should have known of the defect, but the City took no measures to correct the defect or in any manner provide safeguards to protect persons, such as Ms. Tancredi, who were lawfully using the sidewalks along the roadway."

The fatal crash was the third in the last nine years in that area and the second fatal incident near the intersection since April 2008, when a medical school student was fatally struck while crossing South Frontage Road near York. A year later, a research scientist was fatally struck a few blocks away, on a South Frontage Road intersection at College Street.

Last month's crash prompted an immediate response from city officials, including city Transportation Director Doug Hausladen. During a scheduled Board of Alders Public Safety Committee meeting two days after the fatal accident, Hausladen told alders restructuring the intersection was an option, though an unlikely one, that could be considered to avoid future crashes.

The alders sough other ways to improve safety at the intersection, including possibly adding physical barriers to nearby sidewalks.

During the meeting, Hausladen said there were more than 6,000 car crashes in New Haven in 2015. Though the number of fatal car crashes wasn't mentioned, Hausladen said that fatal car crashes are a "public health crisis." The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said there were 35,092 traffic deaths nationwide in 2015.

There were 215 crashes involving pedestrians in New Haven in 2015, including three that were fatal, according to New Haven police.

Alder Richard Furlow, D-27, wants the city to consider reducing posted speed limits to 20 mph from 25 mph in certain residential neighborhoods to address speeding concerns in the city's residential streets.

Reach Esteban L. Hernandez at 203-680-9901.

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