BRADENTON, Fla. -- A petition to make safety improvements to the intersection where two Manatee County teens died last weekend is gaining steam.
- Petition to make safety improvements at intersection
- It has gained more than 3,000 signatures
- Two teens were killed in a crash at the intersection
The petition titled "How Many People Have to Die?" has gained more than 3,000 signatures in less than a week. It was started by a classmate of the two teens.
Chase Coyner, 17, and Matthew Power, 15, died Sept. 15 in a crash as Coyner attempted to make a left turn from State Road 64 in Bradenton onto Pope Road. That's the same intersection where John Frye, 73, was killed in 2013.
It was after Frye's death that Anelis Aurand-Araos, a resident of Greyhawk Landing, starting going door-to-door to gather signatures in support of a traffic light at the intersection.
"We were like, surely enough after one death already and after a community coming together, we'll get a response," she said.
She sent the petition to FDOT and quickly learned the agency had no plans to install a stoplight.
A spokesperson for FDOT says its plans to begin work on a roundabout in that area in 2023.
"It breaks my heart because we've been asking for this for such a long time," Aurand-Araos said.
Now with a second petition gaining more signatures by the day, she's hoping officials will reconsider installing a traffic light.
"I think this will get their attention," she said.
To view the petition, click here.