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Resident begs for help after accidents on Chesterfield road

Posted at 6:19 PM, Apr 27, 2012
and last updated 2012-04-27 22:47:46-04

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - After residents petitioned Chesterfield County to increase fines for people who speed through the county's Centralia Gardens neighborhood, other folks are coming forward.

In fact, people living in another part of Chesterfield County told CBS 6 News' Shelby Brown Friday that they been dealing with the same thing, but that officials have not done anything despite their pleas for help.

Robin Pierce said she is fed up with speeders near her Woodpecker Road home, which she said is a hotspot for speeders and accidents.

In fact, Pierce said a week ago a driver blew through a curve on the road and ended up running off of the road, striking a tree and flipping over.

Pierce said the driver ended up ejected from the vehicle and tossed on the other side of the road.

"People don't see the curve because it's so dark. Once they run off of the road, they always flip over," said Pierce.

She also said that it has become so normal to see these accidents, that her sister has been crafting floral crosses to mark the site of every accident and fatality.

"We want to give people something to think about," said Pierce. "Maybe VDOT will listen to us and do something. At the very least get those reflector poles and put them up so people will have a wake up call and realize that there's a curve there."

Pierce and other neighbors said they want VDOT to lower the speed limit on the road. Right now, it is 55 mph, but advisory signs are posted just before drivers hit the curve. The signs suggest a speed of 45 mph, but Pierce said most folks just don't pay attention to the sign.

VDOT told CBS 6 News' Shelby Brown that in 2005 a fatal accident took place when a driver was going 104 mph. PIerce's sister and brother-in-law, who live next door, came out to help and said they will never forget the horrible scene.

"It's stressful to have to witness all of this stuff. I mean we're the ones out here trying to help the victims. Picking up their items.

"That night when the driver hit the tree, my sister held the man's puppy, who survived the crash," said Pierce. "My brother went in to call for help and the driver was alive. When he got back out here to the road, the man was dead."

She said she does not want anyone else to die because of the high speed limit and the curve.

As a result, Pierce is planning to join forces with other neighbors to put pressure on the county and VDOT.

Pierce also invited officers to sit in her driveway with their radar guns to catch speeders.

Chesterfield police said citizens that feel speeders are a problem in their communities can call a special speeding hotline at 318-8084.

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