Changes coming to Cary intersection, site of deadly crash
CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Changes are coming to a Cary intersection where a 15-year-old high school student was killed in a crash this fall.
Panther Creek High School student Laura Yost died after the car she was riding in turned left into oncoming traffic. The driver, 16-year-old Spencer Saunders was charged in the crash. Cary Police say he turned on a yellow light from Hwy 55 toward McCrimmon Parkway into the path of a dump truck traveling the opposite direction.
"If anyone's driven by the school during school hours, they understand why this is such a great idea," said Cary resident Briant Sikorski of the decision to make changes at the intersection.
Following the accident, the NC Dept. of Transportation launched an investigation, as it does with any fatal crash, looking for ways to improve the intersection.
Town of Cary spokesperson Carrie Roman told ABC11 crews will now change the traffic signals so that during the morning and afternoon commutes and lunch hours, drivers turning left will have a protected left turn arrow - stopping traffic coming from the opposite direction.
"We really see a lot of traffic there around rush hour in the mornings and in the afternoons," said Thomas Sellers. "And I really think it'll make that intersection a little bit more safe, especially for the younger drivers."
"Anything that we can do to help prevent accidents like what tragically happened - it's a good idea," said Bob Connelly of Cary.
NCDOT spokesperson Steve Abbott said the DOT partnered with the Wake County Public School System and Town of Cary for the last two months, trying to find a way to keep traffic flowing while keeping everyone safe.
"Anything that we can do to make our kids safer is definitely worth a couple extra minutes at a light and I'll be happy to sit in one if it takes care of our kids," said Sikorski.
Both the DOT and Town of Cary say crews should begin making the switch to traffic signals around Wednesday.
