Local 24 is taking a closer look into the dangers of a popular intersection in midtown Memphis. Many business owners and residents near the intersection at Union and McLean say since the installation of new traffic lights there, accidents have increased.
These yellow flashing arrow lights were installed back in August to allow drivers to take left turns onto McLean.
Previously, taking a left turn there was restricted, and recent collisions have many in the community worried.
This is the aftermath of the most recent wreck here that happened Thursday. Fortunately, no one was injured. A man who almost lost his grandson after that accident is hoping for a change.
“Of course, it’s sad for him, sad for the other people, but it makes me feel that something is not right,” says Charles Tims. “It’s possible for cars coming really fast headed west on Union; you wouldn’t see them if they were going too fast until it’s too late.”
We went to the city to find out just how common accidents here are. Randall Tatum, director of engineering for the city, says there have been 17 accidents in this area so far since 2017. Now he says he will be checking to see if these accidents are related to the operation of the traffic signal.
Business owners in the area say they witness at least two accidents here weekly.
“It will start blinking yellow, flash, while both lights are green, but then the one going east turns red, but the one going west is still green. So everybody assumes that you can take a left now and it’s just a recipe for disaster,” says Michael Lunati with Las Savell Jewelry. “It seems like two a week. I mean it’s very dangerous intersection. I was for the light initially until I found out how they set it up and it’s extremely dangerous.”
Randall Tatum sent Local 24 the following statement:
“Our data shows that there was not a noticeable increase in the number of accidents at this intersection between the months of August and December of 2016. A recent review of the reported accident during the month of January 2017 shows an uncharacteristic spike for this one month.”
“Something should be done before someone is killed at this intersection,” says Tims.
Tatum says the best thing for people to do in this area, because it is highly congested, is to drive with caution.
