Crews installing new signal at intersection near Panther Creek High
Crews from the Town of Cary were installing a new traffic signal Wednesday morning at the intersection of N.C. Highway 55 and McCrimmon Parkway, hoping to improve safety near where a Panther Creek High School student was killed in September.
Posted — UpdatedLaura Yost, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, died in mid-September from injuries she sustained when the driver of a Chevrolet Blazer turned left into the path of a dump truck at the intersection at about 7:30 a.m. Yost's 16-year-old brother was injured in the wreck.
Police said the driver of the vehicle, Spencer Saunders, 16, of Morrisville, rushed through a safety light and failed to yield to the right of way. He was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
Following the wreck, state and town officials took another look at the left turn from N.C. 55 to McCrimmon Parkway. On the morning of Oct. 14, turn data taken during peak morning hours showed 618 left turns were made onto McCrimmon Parkway.
The data – and demands from parents – was significant enough to make adjustments to the traffic signal. During the morning, lunch hour and after school hours, the light will include a protected-only green arrow, officials said.
Crews arrived at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to start installing the new signal.
During non-school hours, there will be a flashing yellow light permitting motorists to turn left when there is a safe gap in traffic.
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