A deadly intersection in Pinellas County is getting a safety upgrade.
A traffic light is being installed at the entrance of Eckerd College on 54th Avenue South. But it took a recent death to spark a push to get the improvement.
Retired U.S. diplomat Robert Shepherd was instrumental in getting the light installed as he led efforts for years to make the intersection safer. Unfortunately, the 85-year-old was killed in a crash at the same intersection in November.
Shepherd had implored DOT officials to bring back a stoplight that was removed in 1992 after transportation officials said traffic volume was too low to justify it. Eckerd College officials also had took up the cause.
Pinellas County officials say Shepherd's death sparked petitions and letters to the state Department of Transportation.
An announcement about the light is scheduled to be made Wednesday.