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Many residents reached out to Bernards Township expressing their concerns with Allen Road, prompting the Township to issue a statement: BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Somerset County will be conducting a review of Allen Road after a Basking Ridge woman was hit by a car on Halloween. On Oct. 31, a 42-year-old Basking Ridge woman who was using a marked crosswalk and crossing Allen Road was hit by a Toyota, according to authorities. Read More: Basking Ridge Woman Walking In Crosswalk Hit By Car, Hospitalized In Critical Condition As of Nov. 7, she remains hospitalized in critical condition, Bernards Township Police Sgt. Steven Matthews told Patch. "Over the last few days, the Township has heard from many residents expressing their concerns about Allen Road," said the Township in a statement. Additionally, a resident, Sanjay Bery, launched a petition on Monday looking to address these issues and already has close to 1,000 signatures as of Friday. "We live in Basking Ridge, Bernards, NJ, that offers a tranquil environment for families and individuals to thrive. However, as residents of this community, we face the increasing danger and inconvenience of traffic congestion and accidents on Allen Road. This crucial thoroughfare has become a significant concern for us all, as it directly affects our daily lives, commutes, and overall safety," wrote Bery on the change.org petition. The Township shared that it had been in contact with Somerset County and the Somerset County Engineering Department. "An engineering review will commence upon the conclusion of the still ongoing police investigation," according to the township. "Please keep our resident and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time." Allen Road Accidents, Previous Petition This is the second time residents in the area have launched a petition looking to address safety concerns on Allen Road. In 2016, David Dolgin started a petition after being hit by a speeding car on Allen Road at the intersection of Patriot Hill/Hamilton Woods on Dec. 15, 2015. He suffered a severely damaged left leg, requiring five major surgeries in 14 days, and his two dogs were killed. On Oct. 6, 2016, Beom Sohn, 56, from Basking Ridge, was also hit by a car when he was crossing Liberty Ridge Road at Allen Road around 7:50 a.m., according to Bernards Township Police. Sohn was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he died the next morning from his injuries. On Sept. 10, 2019, around 6:50 p.m., a bicyclist was riding in the shoulder near Hamilton Road when a walker with a dog got close to the biker, Bernards Township Police said. The biker moved toward the boundary line, which separates the bike lane from the roadway, to avoid the dog when he was hit by a car, according to police. The bicyclist did not report any injuries at the time of the report. On April 13, 2022, a 2013 White Lexus SUV had stopped at Hamilton Road and turned left onto westbound Allen Road when it hit a 71-year-old man near the crosswalk, said police. The pedestrian had serious injuries and was taken to Morristown Hospital for treatment. A pedestrian safety and vehicle speed study was then conducted by Somerset County on Allen Road in Bernards Township. Read More: Is Allen Road Dangerous? County Conducts Study In June 2022, Somerset County sought input from residents for safety improvements at the intersection of Allen Road and Somerville Road in Bernards Township. In December 2022, Somerset County proposed a roundabout at the intersection of Allen Road and Somerville Road. This was opposed by the Bernards Township Committee. "Basically at the end of the day, we heard from a lot of the residents up in the hills and the vast super ultra majority wanted absolutely nothing to do with this roundabout," said Mayor James Baldassare at the time. "That being the case we are not going to go forward with it and its really just that simple." Dolgin attended several town halls following his accident and worked with safety officials to get speed monitoring signs installed at the bottom of both lanes on Allen Road. In addition, a flashing pedestrian crosswalk was placed at the entrance of the shopping center. Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com
