Site of River Road Crash That Killed Family Undergoing Changes

BETHESDA, MD — The problematic River Road interchange near Walt Whitman High School where a speeding Potomac driver crashed into a Bethesda family – killing three family members – is undergoing changes to help prevent accidents, but the work doesn't include a stoplight, which neighbors have lobbied for at the site.

The Maryland State Highway Administration began work on safety modifications at the intersection of River Road and Braeburn Parkway Aug. 23. The intersection is the site of the Feb. 27 accident where three members of the De Macedo family died. 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.

According to State Highway Administration officials, engineers analyzed the intersection for possible safety improvements and 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

Construction began on Aug. 23 and the $300,000 project is expected to be completed by mid-fall. Crews may close one lane during off-peak hours during construction.

But 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 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.

According to police, the fatal crash happened a BMW traveling west on River Road driven by Ogulcan Atakoglu, 20, of Potomac, 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, according to court documents released Monday,WTOP reports. Court documents say the three counts carry a maximum 30-year prison sentence, but guidelines range from three months to 12 years.

A meeting held in June 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 the meeting and said a traffic signal is needed at the site, reports Montgomery Community Media.

A petition started by a Walt Whitman student calling for traffic signals at the site of the crash 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; graphic of SHA work from Maryland State Highway Administration