News10NBC Investigates: After another crash, county agrees to changes to dangerous Fairport Curve

FAIRPORT, NY – “Someone is going to get killed. “It’s not a question of if, but when,” warns Emily Audet.

After an accident, many people think that they live in the most dangerous corner of the county. But Audet and her neighbors may be right.

They live on a 90 degree bend near Fairport High School. Too often in the last 20 years it has been said that cars that are too fast can’t handle the curve and could crash into your backyard. The most recent crash occurred at midnight on Saturday, April 27th.

“And they end up coming through our yard where our children are,” Audet said as she and her neighbor Terry Graham stood along the road between the tire tracks from the recent accident. “Scary. I don’t like standing here. I avoid standing here.”

Audet and Graham were visibly uneasy when they heard traffic on the corner.

On average, 3,500 cars and trucks line up every day. Graham has lived here for 22 years. Audet’s family moved in four years ago. Since then, they’ve been tracking the number of cars that have crashed into their backyards using photos and videos.

Audet counts three in the last two and a half years. In the two decades he has lived in his home, Graham has counted more than a dozen people.

A video shows a car that came within three feet of Audet’s house. They planted evergreen trees and built a rock wall, fence and shed as barriers. But the crash on April 27 shows that the problem persists.

“Something needs to be done other than having them hit rocks or trees before they hit our house,” Graham said.

“A flashing light,” Audet suggested. “Something that will alert people that it’s a 90-degree turn.”

On Monday, News10NBC’s Chief Investigative Reporter Berkeley Brean met with Tom Frys, director of the county’s Department of Transportation, at the turnaround.

In addition to a streetlight and bright yellow turn signals they installed years ago, the county office will install a “15 MPH” warning and a center-of-lane turn arrow warning on Ayrault Road. That could happen on Tuesday. They will also add radar-activated, solar-powered strobe lights to the turn signals.

Berkeley Brean: “So when a car or truck pulls up like this, do they trigger to flash some lights?”

Tom Frys: “Yes. So they don’t flash constantly, but are activated by approaching vehicles.”

One of the county legislators there is John Baynes. In an email, he wrote, “Now is the time – before it is too late and tragedy strikes – to create the safest possible situation for residents, pedestrians and motorists.”

County Rep. Lystra Bartholomew McCoy wrote via email, “The speed at which vehicles travel on these busy roads, as well as the angle of turns, result in frequent accidents.” While road improvements and the addition of a sidewalk are welcome improvements, my first priority is this Safety of homeowners and pedestrians who will use these sidewalks.”

Perinton Town Manager Ciaran Hanna wrote, “Over the years, the town has supported the county as their DOT has made numerous safety improvements on this particular corner. We remain open and committed to improvements that will ensure the safety of our residents, pedestrians and motorists along this county road going forward.”

News10NBC will continue to monitor safety measures and speak with residents about their impact on reducing accidents.