Bronson Councilman Berlon Weeks, wearing a face mask spoke Tuesday night about the need to halt stop-sign running at the intersection of County Road 32 and 337.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            An intersection made famous by the tragic deaths of a school bus driver and five students 33 years ago apparently remains as dangerous as ever.

            Bronson Town Councilman Berlon Weeks said Monday at a council meeting that he often sees vehicles run stop signs at the intersection of County Roads 337 and 32.

            Weeks, owner of Weeks Bail Bonds located at the intersection, said he was mowing the lawn on his business property recently when he saw a flash out of the corner of his eye as a vehicle ran a stop sign on 32.

            “I went to turn; he just shot through. People were honking at him. He didn’t even think about it. I see it all the time,” Weeks said.

            Weeks suggested contacting the sheriff’s office to ask if a patrol deputy could be stationed at the intersection, or, if a camera could be placed on his business property to photograph stop sign runners and give the drivers tickets.

            Weeks was asked by a reporter how often he sees drivers run through stop signs the intersection.

            “At least once or twice a day,” he said.          

            At the intersection of 337 and 32 is within sight of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office driveways. The intersection is controlled by four stop signs. Thirty-three years ago, there were stop signs only on the 337 sides.

            On Aug. 28, 1987 a school bus passing through the intersection on 32 was broadsided by a large flatbed truck. The flatbed truck carried a large attached hydraulic boom. Five children and their school bus driver died when the truck blasted across 32 and smashed into the side of the school bus at high speed.

            More recently, Bronson town maintenance man Russell Mitchem was seriously injured when he was hit from behind by a pickup truck as he was stopped on the 337 side of the intersection. The force of the collision totaled Mitchem’s city truck. His injuries were so severe he hasn’t returned to work.

            The Levy County Road Department recently painted bright white pedestrian walkway patterns across the intersection on the 337 sides to indicate it is an official pedestrian crossing for a sidewalk that connects to the two Bronson schools. Students can walk from school and cross 337 at the intersection. Once on the other side, they can use a second sidewalk for the walk to Bronson. The county commission built the sidewalk with a state grant.

            Weeks said jail inmates being released from the Levy County Jail often walk across the intersection as they head for Bronson.

            A memorial was constructed by anonymous donors 33 years ago in memory of the five school children and their bus driver who died at the intersection. The line of six crosses, surrounded by a white picket fence, stands as a grim reminder of what happened in 1987 and as a testament to donors who tend to the crosses with great care.

            Weeks said he would reach out to the sheriff’s office to find out if anything could be done to end the stop sign runners. One resident said sheriff’s patrol cars are among the worst speeders on Court Street, which is another name for that stretch of 337.

            Weeks said the intersection is extremely busy. He thinks a flashing light might be the next step in warning vehicles they are approaching a busy cross roads, but he said big warning bumps on 32 and 337 might also serve to slow people down as they reach the intersection.

            The discussion of the intersection of County Roads 337 and 32 started when the council was talking about an unrelated problem with speeders in a different section of town.

            Representatives of County Probation Services had contacted the town about the increase in traffic and speeders on Capitol Street after the Tax Collector’s office moved to the old Bronson School, which is now called the County Annex.

            The Tax Collector’s office, among other things, handles the Florida Department of Motor Vehicle licensing in Levy County. Capitol Street intersects with the street that runs in front of the County Annex.

            Councilman Jason Hunt said he was aware of the problem of speeders on the street and the increase in traffic due to the Department of Motor Vehicles in the Tax Collector’s office.

            He said something needs to be done about the speeders. He supports the idea of speed bumps and speed limit signs on both ends of Capitol Street as suggested by County Probation Services.

            During the discussion of Capitol Street, Weeks began talking about the need for the county to put an end to people running stop signs at the intersection of County Road 32 and 337.

            The discussion then evolved more toward that intersection. Weeks owns a business at the intersection and is aware that the running of stop signs at that location poses a danger to other motorists and pedestrians.

            It so happens that the same intersection was the site of the 1987 tragedy in which five young students and their bus driver were killed when a truck driver ran through a stop sign on 337 and smashed into the bus on 32.

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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting July 20, 2020; Posted July 20, 2020