PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (WFLA) — A new report is revealing just how many people have died on U.S. Highway 19. Karine Burkhart knows that all too well.
“She just went across the street to look for an open gas station and never came back,” Burkhart said.
Burkhart’s daughter, Mia Shawn, 17, was killed on March 28, 2023, when she was struck by a dark gray 2017 limited edition Toyota Tundra pickup truck while crossing U.S. Highway 19, according to Tarpon Springs police.
Police say the driver then fled the scene.
Burkhart said more than a year later, she still wants justice.
“It’s infuriating that someone can fatally beat someone, look out the window of their car, make a U-turn, leave the scene and then not be found,” she said. “It’s hard for me to accept.”
Courtesy of Karine Burkhardt
Courtesy of Karine Burkhardt
Sean’s family is just one of thousands of families across Florida grieving the loss of a loved one who was killed in the accident.
The Consumer Affairs Agency said U.S. Route 1 is the top route for traffic fatalities in Florida.
But because it is spread across the state, the researchers further subdivided Florida roads by also looking at sections within county lines.
According to their data, U.S. 19 in Pinellas County ranked as the most dangerous roadway with 94 deaths from 2020 to 2022, followed by U.S. 19 in Pasco County with 68 deaths.
But data reporter Dieter Holger said it was important to focus on the “why.”
“At the end of the day, as a Department of Transport spokesperson said, human error is the biggest cause,” he said. “94% of serious accidents involve human error.”
So what is the state doing about this? The Florida Department of Transportation is currently working on a $240 million, six-year project involving U.S. 19.
Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation
“The primary goal of this U.S. 19 project is to increase traffic capacity and reduce traffic congestion along U.S. 19,” said Chris Carson, communications manager for FDOT District 7. “As with all projects, the agency prioritizes safety and aims to ensure pedestrian safety.”
“The project will change the existing six-lane divided road to a six-lane regulated access road with one-way frontage roads in both directions paralleling U.S. 19 between SR 580 and CR 95 (Curlew Road),” she said. “The interchange is planned for just north of Boy Scout Road, halfway between SR 580 and SR 586 (Curlew Road).”
“A new interchange will also be added at SR 586 (Curlew Road) to allow U.S. 19 traffic to pass uninterrupted on SR 586,” Carson said. “For safety, pedestrians will have one dedicated underpass between Evans Road and Republic Drive.”
She said FDOT also plans to build a new pedestrian bridge over U.S. 19 at Northside Drive.
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