Deadly River Road Intersection: Politicians Seek Answers

BETHESDA, MD — U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner and local leaders to send a letter to the State Highway Administration requesting an update on safety improvements at the deadly intersection of River Road and Braeburn Parkway at Walt Whitman High School.

“More than a year has passed since three members of a Bethesda family were killed while turning across River Road (MD 190) onto Braeburn Parkway to access Walt Whitman High School,” the letter reads. “Despite repeated requests for safety improvements at this intersection from community members and elected representatives at the county, state, and federal levels, little has been done to remedy the problem.”

In the letter, the officials requested an update on the timeline for intersection improvements, a new intersection Concept Study and a response to their request to designate this section of River Road as a School Zone in order to set a lower speed limit.

See Related: Walt Whitman Principal Says Dangerous River Road Intersection 'Remains Just As It Was'; Speeding Driver in River Road Crash Sobs After Manslaughter Plea; Site of River Road Crash That Killed Family Undergoing Changes

State Senator Susan Lee, Delegate C. William Frick, Delegate Ariana Kelly, and Delegate Marc Korman also signed onto the letter.

At a March 8 meeting, Principal Alan Goodwin said state officials have made no safety improvements to the intersection, where a speeding Potomac driver crashed into a Bethesda family and killed three family members in a February 2016 crash. In November of 2016, seven high school students were also involved in a multi-vehicle collision at the intersection.

"On October 20, 2016, you advised us that SHA’s District 3 engineering staff would evaluate the feasibility of establishing a School Zone here and that evaluation would take up to 45 days to complete," the letter reads. "More than five months later, we have yet to receive formal notice of the result of that evaluation and would appreciate being notified."

At the meeting, about 100 community members gathered in the high school's auditorium to make their frustrations known. They discussed how they remain fearful of the non-signalized intersection, and some even said they prohibit their children from using this entrance to the school.

Goodwin said state officials recently started to install electricity for flashing lights, but poles are still lying on River Road and nothing has been installed.

According to State Highway Administration officials in August 2016, engineers analyzed the intersection for possible safety improvements and said they will make these changes:

• Install traffic-activated overhead flashing signs in both directions of River Road when vehicles turn left onto Braeburn Parkway
• Restrict Braeburn Parkway traffic in both directions to a right-only turn onto River Road
• Separate left-turning traffic from through traffic at the intersection

Area residents have said the state’s designs are too cautious, and urged authorities to install a traffic light; SHA officials have said that traffic studies show the intersection doesn’t meet standards to install one.
At a June 2016 meeting about the site, 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.

"Are these timelines for intersection improvements at River Road and Braeburn Parkway and the release of the new intersection Concept Study accurate?," the letter asks. "What other information should the community know?"

According to police, the fatal February 2016 crash happened when a BMW traveling west on River Road driven by Ogulcan Atakoglu struck the De Macedo family’s Chevrolet Volt as it attempted to turn left onto Pyle Road.

Otakoglu was driving 30 mph over the speed limit at the time of the crash. He was traveling at 75 mph at that point, but had earlier been speeding at 115 mph on the road, Montgomery County Police said.

Atakoglu, a 20-year-old Potomac resident, agreed to plead guilty to three counts of manslaughter by vehicle. Court documents say the three counts carry a maximum 30-year prison sentence, but guidelines range from three months to 12 years.

»Photo of intersection from Change.org petition