DeLAND, Fla. – Surveyors took measurements Friday at a dangerous Volusia County intersection where a woman and her three grandchildren were killed in a fiery crash.
The fatal crash happened Tuesday at Grand and New York avenues in DeLand.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Aryana Thomas, 2, Jaydyn Thomas, 4 and Aleah Bridges died in the crash. Troopers said the vehicle was driven by Sandra Lopes, who also died.
"It's not right to know my sister burned. It's not right to know those babies burned," said Sharyl Rodgers, who visited the crash scene Friday morning.
Rodgers watched surveyors doing work at the intersection, but also asked why something didn't happen sooner.
"Why do it today? You should have done it last week. You should have done it years (ago) when you had the budget," said Rodgers.
Sheriff Ben Johnson said there were already plans to build a roundabout at the intersection of Grand and New York avenues, but he pleaded before the city council for construction to begin sooner.
"This is something we can't let go," said Johnson. "We can never take back the tragedy that happened this week, but we can work to prevent another one from happening."
On Thursday, the Florida Department of Transportation said that construction on the roundabout would start immediately.
"FDOT will be moving forward immediately with the design and construction of a roundabout at the intersection of State Road 44 and Grand Avenue," FDOT said in a release.
FDOT has been studying traffic at the intersection since 2007.
"If it takes something like this to actually open someones eyes that's pathetic," said dad Jeff Thomas. "We were relieved that they put a stoplight in because of the pain we are going through right now and we don't want family to go through this. I mean how many families got to get hurt, I don't know what else to say."
Statistics show there have been 28 crashes at the intersection in the last three years, with 15 ending in injuries, not including Tuesday's crash.
"It's way too late, way too late," said mom Kamilia Thomas.
The family will have a private service on Monday, followed by a Celebration of Life ceremony open to public at Life Point Community Church at 1 p.m.
Thank You Letter to Secretary Jim Boxold