Crashes keep piling up at troublesome new Holly Springs intersection

The intersection is where an extension to Main Street now crosses Ralph Stephens Road. Some drivers are missing the new two-way stop sign on Ralph Stephens Road and are getting hit by or slamming into vehicles driving on Main Street.

Police have pulled over dozens of cars that ran the stop sign and didn't cause a crash.

"I was just driving by, didn't see the stop sign at all," said Eric Garcia, who was ticketed for running the stop sign on Monday after he almost hit a WRAL News van. "I didn't think there would be a stop sign there. (I) kept going straight, and I heard you guys honk, and I realized that I ran a stop sign."

Holly Springs officials on Monday requested that the state Department of Transportation reconsider its decision not to install traffic lights at the intersection. DOT said earlier the intersection didn't qualify for a signal, but local officials said they hope that new data, including a recent traffic count and crash history, will support the case for a traffic light.

The town also late last week installed rumble strips on Ralph Stephens Road, painted "Stop Ahead" on the roadway and put up a stop sign ahead warning sign, complete with flashing light and three orange flags, to help make drivers aware of the new stop sign. A message board informing drivers of a new traffic pattern has been in place since the intersection opened.