“Extremely dangerous” Salisbury intersection causing controversy
SALISBURY, Md. – At the intersection of Walston Switch and Mount Hermon Roads one woman was recently killed in a tragic car accident.
Now, one man is speaking out, calling on lawmakers and highway officials demanding change since cars fly by at such high speeds making it increasingly dangerous.
“So extremely dangerous.”
Darren Lombardo is a long-time Wicomico County resident and he says he’s seen more than his fair share of serious accidents at the intersection.
He said, “We can actually hear it from the location in this neighborhood, the screeching the crashing and immediately you feel it in your heart that ‘I hope that person is OK’.”
Darren witnessed the most recent fatal accident while pumping gas at B and J market.
He says he ran over and held a young woman in his arms as she passed.
It was that tragedy that compelled him to start a petition calling on public officials to make it safe again.
He said, “Having a four way stop, having a roundabout, having a four way traffic light, something to stop people so that they know that they can do it in a safe manner.”
Long-time Salisbury resident Richard Bishop said, “reducing the speed limit could help, maybe even putting up an actual traffic light.”
With petition in hand, we met with the Wicomico County Roads Division, and they say that a change won’t be made overnight.
Superintendent of Roads Lee Outen said, “You have to take a look at the crash history, not just how many crashes. But really, what the cause of those crashes was. There’s a little more to it than going and putting up a signal.”
The roads division also says that any improvements won’t be theirs to make.
They tell us that this problem will have to be fixed by the state and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration says that they will “be adding more traffic signs and new pavement markings. Crews will also trim bushes in the area. Additionally, MDOT SHA engineers continue to review the intersection for long-term improvements.”
We don’t have an exact time frame of when crews will break ground on those improvements, but we will continue to update this page with new information.
To sign the petition, click here.
