Story by Lindsey Chester | August 17, 2009 | Tags: Development, Kailee Birdsong, traffic
About eight weeks ago, Kailee Birdsong was killed by a hit and run driver at the intersection of Greenlevel to Durham Road and Cary Glen Blvd. This was not the first accident, nor was it the last. Before the town finally installed a much needed light at least 2 other wrecks occurred there. One such wreck occurred while NBC 17 was covering an earlier wreck.
The area West of NC 55 has grown significantly in the last 5 years, and soon there will be another 20,000-30,000 new residents living in this western section of town. What has not caught up with this growth is the infrastructure- many of the roads are still 2 lane country roads which are now handling a lot more traffic at newly dangerous intersections. Greenlevel to Durham Road in particular is a state road, which had hindered the town’s ability to install a light at the intersection. Unfortunately it appears that the fatality, finally pushed the need to the forefront, and got the light installed.
Quoted at the time of the accident District A Councilwoman Jennifer Robinson stated:
“We’re trying to determine if the accident that happened on Monday would be one of those types of accidents,” Robinson said (to determine the need for a traffic light).
For the father of Kailee Birdsong, the 16-yr-old who was killed at the intersection Monday, the question about the type of accident that occurred at the site is pretty obsolete.
“This didn’t have to happen,’’ declared Robby Birdsong. “If there had been a traffic light where it is definitely needed, my daughter would be alive right now.
The Town of Cary prided itself on how fast this intersection became a signalised stop at a cost of $60,000. They turned it on in less than 7 weeks, beating the 60 day estimate. But it was still too late for 16 year old Kailee Birdsong.
