Monday, the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners will address a concern on Berryhill Road brought up two weeks ago by a resident who was struck from behind in a three-car accident while waiting to turn into her driveway. The road, already plagued by log truck accidents, may have its 55 mph section between W Spencer Field Road and Pond Creek reduced to 45 mph.
Cathy Alleyene, a Navy veteran, during the February 26 commission meeting said, “I should not have to fear for my life. I fought for my country. I’m a veteran of the United States Navy and I shouldn’t have to die trying to go across the street just to get into my driveway.”
Alleyne, travelling Monday February 23, with her 11-year-old and 13-year-old in her Honda Odyssey, was waiting to turn on to her driveway on Berryhill Road just east of Hammersmith Storage. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the driver of the vehicle behind Alleyne saw a vehicle coming up from behind her and veered to the right onto the south shoulder of County Road 184A. Reports said the driver of this third vehicle, a Chevy Sonic, said she didn’t see Alleyne’s Honda Odyssey until the vehicle in between moved off the road.. She struck Alleyne from behind and drifted into westbound traffic where a Toyota Tacoma struck her. Everyone involved in the accident went to area hospitals.
While rejecting Alleyen’s request for a turn lane or speed bumps on cost and practicality, Avis Whitfield, county public works director, said he (the county) could look into reducing the speed limit.
Commission Chairman Don Salter said during the meeting, “I'm glad we had this conversation, ma'am, because I've had a request from another citizen to look at reducing that speed limit through there. I live just past there, so I travel that road every day. I already asked public works to look at the possibility of reducing that speed limit so I'm glad to hear we're going to do that.” He later said now would be a good time to take care of this problem on Berryhill since surveying for resurfacing work is underway between Pond Creek and Chumuckla Highway.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: How dangerous is Berryhill Road?