Changes to River Road Intersection Where Family Died 'Not Enough': Residents

BETHESDA, MD — Plans by the state to revamp the intersection of River Road and Pyle Road near Walt Whitman High School – the site of a February crash that killed three family members – were criticized as not enough by Bethesda residents.

A meeting held Tuesday to give feedback on the four State Highway Administration  concepts aimed at improving the safety of the River Road and Braeburn Parkway intersection drew dozens of residents.

The concepts were designed to regulate the left-hand turn from River Road onto Braeburn Parkway.

The proposed plans included:

• Extending the River Rd. median to “close” the intersection.
• Installing a T-shaped island (a “Maryland T”) median strip.
• Installing a S-shaped island median strip.
• Creating a positive offset left turn lane.

Residents overwhelmingly rejected the proposed SHA’s plans at Tuesday night’s meeting and said a traffic signal is needed at the site, reports Montgomery Community Media.

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Many of the residents who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting said the state’s designs are too cautious, and urged authorities to install a traffic light, but SHA officials have said that traffic studies show the intersection doesn’t meet standards to install one.

A straw vote of residents recommended moving the intersection to Pyle Road and adding a traffic light.

“A traffic signal at a new intersection of Pyle Road and River would protect the existing crosswalk and the pedestrians as well as the car traffic. We could then close the Braeburn intersection and that would address the problem,” said Richard Boltuck, with the Bannockburn Civic Association.

Three members of the De Macedo family died in a February crash at the intersection. The victims are Michael Buarque De Macedo, 52; his wife, Alessandra M. Buarque De Macedo, 53; and their son, Thomas Michael Buarque De Macedo, 18, a Whitman senior.

Their daughter, Helena Buarque De Macedo, 15, was seriously injured in the accident, which happened when a BMW traveling west on River Road collided with the De Macedo family’s car as it attempted to turn left onto Pyle Road.

A petition started by a Walt Whitman student calling for traffic signals at the site of a crash that killed three family members has garnered more than 4,200 signatures so far.

Melody Lee created a petition on Change.org two days after the fatal wreck, demanding the Maryland State Highway Administration install traffic signals at the intersection of River Road and Pyle Road.

“This has not been the first fatal collision at this intersection. For years, the Bannockburn and Whitman communities have asked the Maryland State Highway Administration to install traffic signals at this dangerous intersection,” Lee said in her petition. “Many students must cross or turn into this intersection in order to enter Walt Whitman High School's parking lots. Installing traffic signals would make the intersection safer for nearby residents, students, teachers, and drivers alike.”

»Photo of intersection from Change.org petition