Federal Hill residents push for answers on traffic safety after crash

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A car went airborne after crashing through a barrier and down a steep hill by Federal Hill Park, heightening concerns about dangerous driving in the neighborhood.

Early Saturday morning, residents say a car sped down Warren Avenue, broke through a fence that was just completed on the hill and landed at the bottom of Covington.

“We believe it was around 3:18 this morning that a vehicle came up Warren Avenue … at probably a high rate of speed through the fencing that was just completed on the hill,” said Stephen Topping.

Topping said a similar crash happened around Halloween two years ago. Residents have reported sounding the alarm about dangerous driving since 2023.

ALSO READ | Detectives seek public help to identify suspect in Federal Hill armed robbery

“We’ve been trying to bring to the attention of the city leadership the fact that we have a massive problem with traffic in the neighborhood,” Topping said. He explained that neighbors have requested new safety measures and even provided their own traffic studies to city officials.

However, he said those pleas have been ignored. “We’ve had no response,” said Topping.

Longtime resident Steven Rosenthal said between late-night partiers, reckless driving and persistent safety worries, living in the neighborhood has become increasingly difficult. “It just sometimes makes it uninhabitable,” Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal added that the lack of action from the city is especially frustrating. “We’ve been frustrated over the 12 or so years I’ve lived here. It has been obvious that the city’s not there at all,” he said.

ALSO READ | Speed bumps appear, then disappear in Federal Hill

Neighbors say there are reports that young people may have run from the car after the crash, though police have not confirmed who was involved.

“There has to be some sort of accountability,” said Topping.

Residents say responsibility extends to city leaders as well, calling for action before someone is seriously injured. WBFF has reached out to Councilman Zac Blanchard about these traffic safety concerns and has not received a response.

People living near Federal Hill Park say the damaged barrier is yet another sign that their calls for help have gone unanswered.