Thursday morning, South Carolina Highway Patrol special investigators continued to investigate a deadly crash that happened at or near the intersection of Palmetto Pointe Boulevard and U.S. Highway 17 Bypass in Horry County.
That accident killed 26-year-old Mark Sermon, Jr., and his two kids, 9-year-old Dajah and 6-year-old Mark III.
The intersection itself is a point of frustration and even confusion for many who drive through there every day, including Kimberly Elko, who, along with her husband, have owned Elko Spas and Billiards on the nearby frontage road along the bypass.
"It's definitely not an intersection you want to rush through without thinking or being very defensive," said Elko on Thursday morning. "I just don't see it being fixed and making it a safe intersection anytime soon," she said.
About a year ago, Horry County removed a large sign from the median on Palmetto Point Boulevard, and, at the same time, removed stop signs that helped define traffic flow at what was a more sight-restricted intersection.
"Significant traffic was backing up on Palmetto Pointe Blvd and it was taking 3-4 cycles of the signal for traffic to get onto 17 because they had to compete with the traffic at the Frontage Road," Horry County Spokesperson Lisa Bourcier wrote in a statement.
South Carolina Department of Transportation officials said there was some discussion about improving the intersection as part of the massive overhaul planned for the nearby U.S. 17 Bypass and S.C. Highway 707 intersection.
Mike Barbee with D.O.T. said residents who live along the heavily-populated Palmetto Pointe Boulevard were mostly opposed to that, and so, Barbee said, there will be very little significant changes made.
Elko said she has heard many accidents at the intersection, and she says she just takes her time, no matter what, when she has to go through there.
"I'll wait," she said. "A lot of people get mad, because the traffic will be backed up behind me, but it's a death trap, so I definitely won't rush to get through there," she said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement