Local Man Wins Crusade To Prevent More Deaths At Highway 29 And Byrneville, Bluff Springs Roads

October 27, 2008

bluffspringscaution.jpg

A local man took on the state highway department and won…caution lights are up and the speed limit will soon be lowered at Highway 29 and Byrneville Road.

Leroy White (left) lost his granddaughter on Thanksgiving day 2005 at the intersection of Byrneville Road/Bluff Springs Road and Highway 29. It’s a tragedy that he says could have been prevented with a traffic signal, and he went on a mission to have the Florida Department of Transportation make some changes.

That crusade include a petition with 450 signatures requesting improvements at the intersection and an August 15 article on NorthEscambia.com.

Tommie Speights, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transporation, said that petition and the news coverage on NorthEscambia.com led the DOT to study the intersection.

Flashing yellow lights have been installed on “intersection ahead” signs both north and southbound as Highway 29 approaches the intersection. If all goes as planned, new speed limit signs will be posted Friday, lowering the Highway 29 speed limit near the intersection from 65 to 55 mph, Speights said. Additionally, he said, the state had recommended that the county install solar powered flashing lights and signs on both Byrneville Road and Bluff Springs Road as they approach Highway 29.

“Hopefully it will do some good,” White told NorthEscambia.com. “There’s been too many wrecks there. I’m glad they are finally doing something about it.”

Callista LeEtta White died November 27, 2003, at the intersection. She was returning to Pensacola after spending time on Thanksgiving with her family. It was raining, and she approached Highway 29 too fast, apparently not realizing that she was near the intersection. She  missed the stop sign and hydroplaned into the path of of a tractor trailer truck on Highway 29 about 7:35 p.m. The 2003 Northview High School graduate died  a short time later at West Florida Hospital.

The most recent fatality at the intersection was on June 23 when Carolyn Hightower, 60, of Pensacola died as a result of injuries she sustained in a two vehicle accident there.  Her husband, Richard Hightower, 63, was seriously injured in the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol said that  Floyd D. Calloway, 65, pulled into the intersection from Bluff Springs into the path of the Hightower’s SUV.

“I just didn’t want to see it happen to another family,” White said.

Pictured above: The new caution light on Highway 29 looking south toward Byrneville Road.. Pictured below: The accident at the intersection that claimed the life of a Pensacola woman on June 23. NorthEscambia.com photos.

Comments

6 Responses to “Local Man Wins Crusade To Prevent More Deaths At Highway 29 And Byrneville, Bluff Springs Roads”

  1. Brenton Kelley on October 28th, 2008 2:32 pm

    Thanks old man, I almost lost my son my sister an my neice there,your hard work an determination has paid off.Thanks ,my family appreciates all youve done.

  2. Kim B on October 27th, 2008 9:42 pm

    Yes Job well done Leroy! Thanks for caring enough to try and prevent tragedy from happening to another family at that intersection. Now as a parent of a teenage driver I can feel a bit better when he travels that intersection! Again, Thanks Leroy for you hard work and dedication!!!

  3. Craig B. on October 27th, 2008 12:13 pm

    LEROY , i’m glad your hard work has finally paid off. Job well done. Now i hope everyone else will do their part .

  4. GA on October 27th, 2008 11:27 am

    Mr White everyone is proud of you ! We needed that caution light

  5. sylvia Godwin on October 27th, 2008 9:10 am

    Thanks Mr. White for fighting for something that was so much needed. I have always been so afraid of that crossroad. I hope people will slow down and heed the warning flashers.

  6. Mr. Greatful on October 27th, 2008 8:42 am

    Well Done!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News