New traffic light installed at dangerous Effingham Co. intersection

by Mackenzie Baker

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A new traffic light at a hazardous intersection in Effingham County has finally been installed over a year after a deadly crash happened in the area.

The light is expected to turn on later Thursday morning.

Officials describe the intersection of Highway 21 and McCall Road as one the most hazardous in the county.

A number of crashes have occurred at the busy intersection, including a deadly one last year.

45-year-old Laura Laura Devisscher and her dog Bella were killed last June after a 16-year-old traveling over 100 miles per hour crashed into her car.

The tragedy sparked outrage in the community, with many pushing harder than ever before for a traffic light to be added to the area.

Shortly after the incident, the county responded by unanimously approving the request to install a traffic signal.

Some residents, like Kevin West, never stopped pushing for the improvement. West, who also witnessed the crash, made it his personal mission to make sure the light became a reality, even reaching out to State Representative Jon Burns for help.

“I made a promise to the lady that was deceased and her family that I was going to do whatever, whatever we could do, to get this taken care of. And you see behind me now that we have some traffic lights, and it kind of hits hard,” said West.

In coordination with the Georgia Department of Transportation, the county was able expedite the installation process by breaking the intersection safety project into two phases.

Phase one is will be the light finally going active. In phase two, left-hand turn lanes will be added to each side of the intersection on McCall Road.

With the light set to turn on Thursday, county officials want drivers to be aware of the traffic change.

Effingham County Manager Tim Callanan says, “what I’m hoping is people still drive very carefully, understand that a traffic light is now there, and that you could stop on 21 and that that transition is safe.”

Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie says the light has been a long time coming and he hopes it will help reduce the number of crashes, especially fatal ones, in the area.

The traffic unit also gave WTOC a comment, saying in part, “the installation of this new traffic light is a crucial step in improving the safety of one of our county’s most hazardous intersections.”

The light is expected to turn on this morning at 10 a.m., according to officials.