The intersection of Marina and Gulf drives in Holmes Beach was improved and just opened to traffic.
But a recent crash that resulted in the death of one pedestrian and injury to another will result in additional changes.
Police Chief Bill Tokajer told The Islander May 18 that the city was set to adjust traffic lights at the intersection to better protect pedestrians after a motorist struck two women, Deborah Trotter and her mother, Miriam, May 12 in the intersection.
They were taken to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton, where Deborah Trotter, 65, of Holmes Beach, was treated and released the same day.
Miriam Trotter, 86, visiting from Maryland, suffered critical injuries and died May 17.
The Trotters were using a new crosswalk on Gulf Drive between S&S Plaza and the defunct Wells Fargo building — added during the city center roadway improvement project — and had the right of way when they were struck by a 2018 GMC 2500 driven by Michael Ritchie, 43, of Bradenton.
Police cited Ritchie for “failing to yield the right of way to pedestrian at intersection with traffic control device” following the incident.
Tokajer said Ritchie was not charged with any criminal offense as of May 20.
“There was no criminal act,” Tokajer said. “He was not intoxicated. It does not appear he was distracted driving. He didn’t leave the scene.”
“It was not an intentional act. It’s not like he saw them and ran them over,” he added.
Following the incident, Tokajer said the city was set to adjust traffic signals at the intersection to clear up potential confusion over rights of way for vehicular traffic and pedestrians.
“In reviewing it, we see there are things we can do to make it safer,” Tokajer said.
Green arrow signals give motorists the absolute right of way to proceed in the signal’s indicated direction.
However, green light signals — such as those at the intersection — do not provide a motorist the right of way in the case of impeding traffic or an active pedestrian crossing signal.
At the time of the crash, Ritchie, who was driving southbound on Marina Drive, took a green light to turn left onto Gulf Drive despite the Trotters having entered the marked crosswalk.
Tokajer said lights at the intersection would be adjusted so that when there is a pedestrian crossing signal in use, all lanes which could impact the crosswalk would be presented with red lights for the duration of the crossing signal.
He added that the intersection needs to be resurfaced and restriped as a final step in the city center improvement project, which he hoped would make the crosswalks more pronounced.
Deborah Trotter did not respond to attempts by The Islander to comment on the incident.
Going to be a very big lawsuit.