Letters

‘Threat of my family’s safety has become reality’

On Sept. 22, while my husband was on his way home from work, he was struck by a tractor-trailer who ran a red light at the intersection of Fresh Ponds Road and Route 130. After the tractor-trailer hit my husband’s car, its driver lost control, skidded several hundred yards down Route 130 and crossed the median into oncoming traffic. Miraculously, the tractor-trailer driver did not kill anyone on the other side of the road. My husband’s car was completely totaled, but fortunately he was able to walk away with minor injuries. We thank God our 4-year-old son was not riding in the back of the car; otherwise, this may have been a fatal accident. I also thank God my son and unborn child will still have a father in their life.

The driver of the tractor-trailer told the police “he was trying to beat the yellow light.” How many of you witness drivers doing the same?

I watch drivers of tractor-trailers and dump trucks on a daily basis drive at excessive speeds down our roads, racing through yellow and even worse, red lights. During the past five years of living in South Brunswick, the fear for my family’s safety on these roads has intensified.

How many of you feel the same way? Now the threat of my family’s safety has become a reality, and I feel changed forever. In the last few days since the accident, I look at life and my surroundings a lot differently now. We never know what each day will bring. We never know what fate has planned for us. Please hug your husbands and babies a little tighter tonight.

Michelle Scarpa

South Brunswick

‘Need more good Samaritans’ like No. Brunswick man

I was coming home from work Sept. 20 and as I was exiting the turnpike at Exit 9, I got a flat. In the process of changing my flat, my truck had fallen from its jack. I had called the turnpike authority and would have waited 45 minutes for the service truck to show up. Until John from North Brunswick pulled over to assist — I needed a floor jack as my truck was sitting on the rotor and I could not get my jack back underneath it — it just so happened John had one in his trunk. Five minutes later my spare was put on and I was ready to roll once again. I offered John a monetary thank you, and he declined stating “Get back on your way and God bless!” We need some more good Samaritans like John. John, thanks again!

Steven Pepi

Monroe Township