Jul 30, 2009 11:44 pm US/Eastern
Calls For Change Along Route 32 After Accident
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
A call for change in the name of safety as a community unites.
A mother and her son are killed in a terrible accident along Route 32 in Sykesville.
Kai Jackson reports there are demands for changes at the busy intersection before someone else is hurt.
Residents say the section of Route 32 is dangerous; it has a high volume of traffic, and no margin for error.
On June 23rd a collision between a minivan and a flatbed in Howard County claimed the lives of a mother and her son.
Fifty-one year old Jennifer Kim was driving and her son 13-year-old Vincent Woodward was a passenger when Kim was trying to make a left turn from River Road onto southbound 32 and was hit by the flatbed.
"My husband is a worship pastor at Friendship Church just up the street and of course that fatality happened within a mile of the church," says Charity Respasss.
That tragedy, other accidents and fears of accidents packed a room full of residents at the West Friendship Fire Department.
The State Highway Administration, Howard County government, and others are looking for ways to make Route 32 safer.
At issue is a 3.2 mile stretch of road between Route 99 and the Carroll County line.
Former Howard County Police Chief Wayne Livesay knows the road well.
"I think it's extremely dangerous. As you know the county has grown, Carroll County has grown," he says.
Some residents say traffic on the road is so bad you can't get on it during morning rush hour, or get back into your neighborhoods in the evening.
When asked what could be done to fix the problem, one resident had offered his advice.
"Well they've already made two lanes all the way up to 99, if they continue that north, that would certainly help," said Dan Rosenberger.
Among the ideas the State Highway Administration is considering is looking at the width of lanes, constructing turn lanes or bypass lines, and installing signs and lighting.
"If we don't come up with some solutions pretty soon, some other tragedy's going to happen, we can almost count on it," Livesay adds.
Five-year-old Jackie Woodward was the only survivor of the accident.
Livesay says a task force should be formed in order to take immediate action with regards to Route 32.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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