Cary intersection doesn't meet criteria for traffic light

Cary, N.C. — Cary traffic engineers say the intersection where a Cary couple died in a wreck on Sunday hasn't met the criteria for a traffic light, despite pleas from drivers and neighbors that the intersection is too dangerous.

Police say 22-year-old Martikia Adams was driving in a Saturn with her boyfriend, 26-year-old Brian Cobb, when she attempted to turn left from West Chatham Street onto Cary Parkway and crossed into the path of a Dodge Avenger.

Adams and Cobb were taken to WakeMed, where they died, police said. They leave behind a 2-year-old daughter, who was not in the car.

Meghan Sladek, who was driving the Avenger, suffered minor injuries, police said.

No charges have been filed.

Neighbors living near the intersection and drivers say the is dangerous and a common site for car crashes.

"Turning left is pretty hard. I think you could use a light here," driver Mark Seawell said.

Cary traffic engineer David Spencer said the town has looked into installing a traffic signal at the intersection three times since 2007.

"One of the things that we look at when considering a signal is crash history," Spencer said.

There hasn't been enough crashes at the intersection to justify installing a light, he said.

"Unfortunately, looking at the criteria for crashes, there is no taking into account for the severity of the crash," Spencer said.

In addition to traffic volume and other criteria, to warrant a light an intersection would need to have had five crashes that would have likely been corrected by a traffic light in a single year.

There have been two correctable crashes, including Sunday's wreck, in the past year and a total of five correctable crashes at the intersection since November 2004, Spencer said.

Spencer said engineers will be evaluating the intersection again to determine if it qualifies for a traffic light.

61 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 61 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments

Well it did not say speed was a factor, and how do all of you know cars go 60 mph down cary parkway? Have you been trained to see how fast a car is going?

conservatism lives
February 21, 2012 12:57 p.m.

Something that hasn't been mentioned in the discussion - roundabouts. I'm not suggesting that the Town put roundabouts all along Cary Parkway, but T-bone collisions like this one are among the most fatal types of accidents at intersections. By their design, roundabouts are safer because they eliminate the potential for T-bone collisions. And on a road where you're trying to maintain traffic flow, they eliminate cars having to stop at lights when there's no traffic coming in from side streets. They also avoid creating local air quality effects from cars idling and accelerating at a new traffic light.

Again - not saying that the Town should put one here, but next time your DOT is trying to put in a roundabout somewhere, try to give the project the benefit of the doubt. I know no one likes roundabouts, but that's because they're something new and different and we're all creatures of habit. Trust me, if you can navigate a yield sign, you can learn how to use a roundabout. (It would

amycsack
February 16, 2012 12:10 p.m.

Very true Shamrock! It is ridiculous that our tax dollars can't pay to put in a light for safety. Why is there a light at Chatham and Old Apex or Old Apex and High House...2 very small intersections that could survive a 4 way stop sign...not an EXTREMELY busy road with a 45 mile an hour speed limit. I feel so bad for that little girl that will grow up without her parents. My prayers will be with their families.

katyc
February 14, 2012 3:39 p.m.

"If the vehicle was close enough to hit them, it was close enough to see and avoid." pedsrndad

You must not be familiar with the interestion in question. There is a sharp curve there and people come around it at 55-60 MPH even when the speed limit is 45. I have always felt nervous when turning out onto CP from Chatham.

Shamrock
February 14, 2012 1:11 p.m.

you can set the speed limit to anything but like brlzlz said, that won't make anyone stop.. it won't make anyone less reckless. "when she attempted to turn left from West Chatham Street onto Cary Parkway and crossed into the path of a Dodge Avenger" So, was she blind and didnt see ? What was she doing if not paying attention ???

dev8me
February 14, 2012 1:08 p.m.