Petition for Changes at Deadly Intersection Gains 3,700 Signatures

BETHESDA, MD — 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 3,700 signatures so far, along with support from Montgomery County politicians.

Melody Lee created a petition on Change.org two days ago demanding the Maryland State Highway Administration install traffic signals at the intersection of River Road and Pyle Road near Whitman High School.

“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.”

Three members of the De Macedo family died at the crash scene from injuries suffered on Saturday, Montgomery County Police said. 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 taken to a local trauma center with life-threatening injuries, where she is reportedly in stable condition .

Thomas was remembered Sunday night by Walt Whitman High School students, teachers and school administrators as a gifted math student who shone on the school’s debate team.

According to police, a BMW traveling west on River Road driven by Ogulcan Atakoglu, 20, collided with the De Macedo family’s Chevrolet Volt as it attempted to turn left onto Pyle Road.

Students and community members commented on the petition site, noting other fatal and injury accidents at the intersection.

“A dangerous intersection that students and families need to navigate on a daily basis. How many more people need to die before action is taken?” wrote Debbie Szyfer of Bethesda.

Other signers said the mix of young drivers plus speeding cars on the four-lane River Road, with a 45 mph speed limit, is a recipe for crashes on the road, and recalled accidents involved family and friends there.

“My daughter was in a crash at this same intersection in 2014, cars smashed but miraculously the kids were unhurt. Almost no one navigates the intersection properly and the traffic on River Rd is often travelling way too fast for cars to enter or cross. Put in a light or close the median,” said Patricia DiRuggiero of Cabin John.

The State Highway Administration said in a statement Monday that it would review the final police report, reports Bethesda magazine. Montgomery County Police are still investigating the crash and have not said what might have caused the crash.

“We cannot speculate about the cause of the crash and we need to have the facts concerning what happened,” the SHA said. “SHA engineers will review the intersection operations and conduct a new traffic study.”

The Montgomery County Council, County Executive Ike Leggett, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and four members of the Maryland General Assembly on Tuesday sent a letter to the SHA administrator asking for a review of safety issues at the intersection of River Road (Maryland 190) and Pyle Road.

State Senator Susan Lee and State Delegates Bill Frick, Arianna Kelly and Mark Korman also signed the letter, reports Montgomery Community Media.

In the letter, the elected officials wrote: “We ask that you conduct a traffic safety study that examines all potential options—including a traffic light—that could make that intersection safer for all users. We ask that you conduct this study as quickly as possible.”

The full letter says:

“Dear Administrator Johnson:

“We are writing to you today concerning the recent fatal crash at the intersection of River Road (MD 190) and Pyle Road/Braeburn Parkway in Bethesda that took the lives of three members of our community. As representatives of the area at the state and county levels, we believe that traffic and pedestrian safety issues at this intersection must be more comprehensively addressed.

“We appreciate that you have agreed to evaluate this intersection again. Safety at this intersection has been a priority of the local community since at least 2008. Local residents report that the combination of high speeds on River Rd., limited visibility due to the nearby crest of the hill, wide travel lanes, and proximity to the Beltway make this intersection particularly dangerous. As this is a major entry point for a local high school, we must take all possible steps to address the unsafe conditions.

“Residents and members of the Whitman High School community are again calling for a traffic light at this intersection via a petition that already has over 2,000 signatories. We ask that you conduct a traffic safety study that examines all potential options—including a traffic light—that could make that intersection safer for all users. We ask that you conduct this study as quickly as possible.

“We understand that the District 3 team recently reviewed the pedestrian safety issues associated with the nearby crosswalk. We regretted SHA’s initial determination to not make any significant pedestrian safety improvement upgrades. We do not think that fresh paint will be sufficient to address the serious safety challenges posed by an unsignalized crosswalk frequently used by high schoolers where the posted speed is 45 mph. As we seek to improve traffic safety, everything must be done to also ensure that students walking to and from Whitman can do so safely.

“Thank you for your consideration of this matter. We look forward to your prompt reply.”

»Photo of intersection from Change.org petition