PITTSYLVANIA CO., Va. (WDBJ) – Frustration is growing in the Banister District of Pittsylvania County as crashes become more common at an intersection on Route 57. Now, residents are calling on leaders to make changes.
Driving on Route 57 East of Chatham can be confusing—especially at the intersection of 640 Spring Garden Road and Java Road.
“ The intersection itself is not perfectly 90 degrees. It’s not a perfect 90-degree angle. There is an angle to the road there. There is a stop condition in two directions, and there’s not a stop in the other two,” said VDOT Communications Manager Len Stevens.
Neighbors in the Banister District said they have experienced accidents at the intersection for years.
“Mostly when I come through, I’m normally breaking and slowing down because you never know who is going to run out. This is a busy road,” said Resident Issac Coles.
“Every crash we’ve had there has been an angle crash. This intersection has got our attention,” said Stevens.
VDOT said 10 accidents have happened since 2017. Including a fatal crash that killed a 46-year-old woman and the passenger, a four-year-old girl, on March 27.
” I was sitting at home, and I heard it from there. I rode up here, and they lost their lives. Not only that, but a week after that, Hayes and I were sitting at my house, we heard hollering, and then we heard a bang,” said Resident Amos Jones.
After the latest crashes, neighbors said they’re pushing for changes.
” A light needs to be put there. It’s a four-way, but someone who is not accustomed to the area could go right through it,” said Resident Genevieve Henry.
“It’s got to be something that lets them know that there is a stop sign here,” said Jones.
“Something is going to have to be done with the casualties that have happened right here already,” said Coles.
VDOT said it’s actively investigating the intersection.
” We are going to take a closer look at this one, and if there are things that we need to do to make that intersection safer, we will do so,” said Stevens.
Residents said they’re hoping action follows those words.
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