Traffic is rerouted in front of the Sugarwood Grove subdivision after a lawsuit is filed by the family of a woman killed in an accident there.
By TIM GRANT
Published January 9, 2004
CARROLLWOOD - The intersection where Francisca Payrol died five years ago is now a safer place to drive.
The county's Public Works Department recently installed a road block that prevents anyone leaving the Sugarwood Grove subdivision from making a left turn on Ehrlich Road.
"I'm happy to see it," said Len Soniat, president of the Sugarwood Grove special tax district. "I never thought it was a good safe turn anyway."
Motorists on Ehrlich Road will still be able to make a left turn on Fulmar into Sugarwood Grove, but the traffic diverter prevents people leaving the subdivision from turning left.
The traffic control was installed at the intersection during the Christmas holidays. It was prompted by a lawsuit filed on behalf of Payrol by her family. They allege she died because Sugarwood Grove's wooden entrance sign and subdivision wall blocked her view of traffic on Ehrlich.
The lawsuit blames the subdivision, the county and others for Payrol's death.
Payrol, 29, was killed on June 28, 1999. As she was turning left from Fulmar Drive out of Sugarwood Grove, a car slammed into her silver 1995 Nissan Sentra on Ehrlich Road.
Rob Brazel, an assistant county attorney who represents the county in the lawsuit, said the lawsuit promoted the traffic diverter.
"This litigation brought that intersection to our attention," Brazel said. "The plaintiffs have alleged the intersection is not safe."
Brazel said before the roadwork began he called Soniat to see if there might be any strong community opposition to closing off that intersection to left turns. Soniat said not many people have complained.
Homeowners in Sugarwood Grove who want to travel east at that intersection must now turn right, drive about 100 feet to a traffic light at Ehrlich Road and Farmington Boulevard, then make a U-turn.
Daniel Perez, a Tampa lawyer who represents the Payrol family, said his clients are pleased with the safety improvements.
"One of the things the family wanted to do was prevent this from happening again, and this is a tremendous step toward that," Perez said. "The family wanted to make a positive change there."
