Following a fatal crash last Wednesday at the intersection of US 98 and Regions Way, Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner is urging citizens to support safety improvements at the dangerous crossing.
- Wagner posted on social media that the April 2 accident claimed one life, bringing renewed urgency to implement recommendations from a Florida Department of Transportation study.
“Today, a tragic crash at US 98 and Regions Way took a life,” Wagner wrote. “This intersection has seen 60 crashes, 14 injuries, and now, 1 fatality.”
According to the FDOT study conducted by Florida Transportation Engineering, the intersection has been the site of 60 documented crashes over a five-year period, with 14 crashes resulting in injuries requiring medical transportation.
The study points to several factors contributing to the dangerous conditions, including significant traffic queuing issues, frequent backup from nearby traffic signals, and “good Samaritan” gestures where drivers wave others through traffic – which accounted for 17 crashes.
- FDOT’s primary recommendation is to reconstruct the existing full median opening at the intersection and convert it to a “directionalized left-turn only” for eastbound and westbound left-turn and U-turn movements, which would prevent traffic from crossing directly across US 98.
Wagner noted that FDOT has already proposed the safer design at no cost to the city through an existing resurfacing project. However, the city must provide a letter of support to move forward with the improvements.
“I’ve brought this to the council before, but the support wasn’t there,” Wagner stated. “With this heartbreaking loss, it’s time to act.”
The mayor encouraged residents to email the city council and attend the upcoming council meeting on April 7 at 6 p.m. at the Destin Annex Building to show support for the safety improvements.
“This is about protecting our neighbors and preventing the next tragedy,” Wagner concluded.
