COMMUNITY PETITION

Request for Road Safety Improvements

Route 57 & Bankrupt Road (in front of R.F. H. Hide-A-Way, Phoenix, N.Y.).

To: Town Supervisor Nazarian, Highway Superintendent Jones, Town Clerk Owens, and the Town of Schroeppel Board Members

Why We Are Asking for Change

My name is Melissa Hennessey, and I am a mother who recently experienced the unimaginable loss of her son, Hunter Hennessey, a 22-year-old veteran.

On October 9, 2026, Hunter was on his way to work when he tragically lost his life in a fatal accident at the intersection of Route 57 and Bankrupt Road, directly in front of R.F.H. Hide-A-Way.

Hunter leaves behind his twin brother, Dakota, who not only has to live with the loss of his brother but also regularly travels this same stretch of road. Knowing that another accident occurred in this area on the very same day Hunter passed away, along with several other accidents over the years, makes it difficult to ignore the concerns surrounding this location.

My family is living through a pain that no family should ever have to experience. While nothing will ever bring Hunter back, I cannot help but wonder whether more can be done to make this road safer for the people who travel it every day.

I am asking our community to come together and support a closer evaluation of this location and the potential safety improvements that could help prevent future tragedies.

What We Are Requesting

We respectfully ask the Town of Schroeppel and the appropriate highway authorities to consider the following:

1. Lighting Assessment
Evaluate adding a streetlight directly in front of R.F.H. Hide-A-Way and determine whether improved roadway lighting could increase visibility and safety.

2. Speed Study
Review the posted speed limit and consider conducting a traffic speed study to determine whether vehicles are traveling at appropriate speeds for this area.

3. Accident History Review
Examine the history of accidents at or near this intersection, including whether there are recurring patterns or contributing factors that warrant further investigation.

4. Additional Safety Measures
Determine whether improved signage, warning signs, speed enforcement, traffic-calming measures, or other roadway improvements may be appropriate.

5. Agency Coordination
Clarify which agency has jurisdiction over this section of Route 57. If the New York State Department of Transportation or another agency is responsible for evaluating or implementing improvements, we ask that the Town help bring these concerns to the appropriate department and advocate for action.

We understand that accidents can happen for many reasons, and we are not making assumptions about the cause of Hunter's accident. We are simply asking that the history of accidents and the conditions at this location receive the attention and evaluation they deserve.

Our Request to the Community

By signing this petition, you are supporting a formal request for the Town of Schroeppel and the appropriate transportation authorities to evaluate this location and take meaningful steps toward improving road safety.

This is about more than one accident. It is about the people who travel this road every day, the families waiting for them to get home, and the possibility of preventing another family from receiving life-changing news.

Nothing will ever bring Hunter home. But if speaking up can help identify a safety concern and prevent another family from experiencing this heartbreak, then I feel a responsibility to do everything I can.

For Hunter. For Dakota. For our families. For our community.

Let's work together to make this stretch of road safer. 

Melissa Hennessey 
Hunter’s Mom