The recent deadly motor vehicle collision that took the life of Atlanta Police Department Officer Bennie Hardeman has sparked outcries for safety measures at Butner Road and Camp Creek Parkway.
The intersection has repeatedly been flagged as one of the most dangerous in the state. According to the South Fulton Police Department, there have been nearly 40 tragic accidents at the intersection in recent years. A WSB-TV investigation in 2015 reported 13 accidents at the intersection in a period of just 30 days.
Accidents have been attributed to speeding, limited sight distance and drivers failing to maintain their lane. However, according to elected officials and residents in the area, this near-decade-long issue has prompted no response from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
District 2 Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs has lobbied for several years for increased safety measures at the intersection, and says urgent attention is critically needed.
“The alarming frequency of accidents at Butner Road and Camp Creek Parkway has diminished residents’ trust in our state’s infrastructure, and their frustration has now reached an all-time high,” said Gumbs. “I deeply sympathize with all families who have endured the tragic consequences of these accidents. And I’m troubled that my repeated requests for speed studies and protective turn signals at the intersection have resulted in little to no action by GDOT.”
In addition to her request for an intervention by GDOT on Camp Creek Parkway, which is a state road, Councilwoman Gumbs is asking support from South Fulton leaders in calling for a reduction in the speed limit on Butner Road. In the meantime, she’s urging residents to use extreme caution when driving in the area.
