The state Department of Transportation, spurred by an online petition calling for safety improvements on the portion of Princeton-Hightstown Road that was the scene of the one-car collision that killed High School North senior Stephanie Au-Yeung on March 12, has completed roadway improvements and the installation of 125 additional feet of guard rail to keep cars from sliding off the road into the adjoining trees.
The road, officially known as state route 64, includes the bridge over the Amtrak tracks that makes a sharp curve to the left as motorists head from Princeton Junction toward Route 1. On rainy day Au-Yeung’s car slid off the curved portion and slammed into a tree a few feet from the roadway.
The effort was aided by cooperative neighbors, including the Sarnoff Corporation, which granted permission granted to trim and cut trees along the roadway, and Larry Schafer, the owner of property adjacent to the turn who removed — at his own expense — a dead tree on his property that was considered a hazard.
Also lobbying the DOT to take quick action was Pete Weale of Fischer Place, who regretted that action had not been taken sooner. “We had a neighbor who hit the same tree last summer. An airbag saved her life. I was unaware of this or we could have started the effort earlier,” said Weale.
“The reality is that if the guardrail had been in place after repeated previous accidents, I feel the outcome with Stephanie might have been different. Until that guardrail was installed and the trees themselves were cut at the ground, there was always a risk of a recurrence.”
