Lee County leaders are calling for increased law enforcement patrols along Burnt Store Road following a deadly crash that claimed three lives.

Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass addressed this issue in a letter to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Cape Coral Police Department, citing the rise in crashes on Burnt Store Road.

“You are kind of afraid. I mean, that’s how it is. Lot of cars, you know? And like they said before, some people, they drive crazy,” said Bosko Ilijevski, a Cape Coral neighbor.

“It’s a little concerning. It seems like everybody goes real fast, and they expect you to sort of keep up the pace,” said Charlie Ott, another Cape Coral neighbor.

Commissioner Pendergrass emphasized the need for more patrols to serve as a warning for drivers.

“We’re trying to make people aware of the surroundings and make sure they follow the wall, drive safely, and do not pass in no passing zones,” said Pendergrass. “We also have a lot of crashes lately not just on Burnt Store Road, but SR 31, another with SR 82 which is now six lanes, but we’re still having the issue of the super speeders and people not following the law.”

In a statement, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) said that it is actively patrolling the two-lane portion of Burnt Store Road, highlighting a collaborative effort with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the Cape Coral Police Department.

“The Lee County Sheriff’s Office patrols the 2-lane portion of Burnt Store Road. This is a multi-jurisdictional effort as the roadway is shared by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the Cape Coral Police Department. Traffic operations are ongoing and will continue on this stretch of roadway,” the statement read.

The Cape Coral Police Department also emphasized its commitment to traffic enforcement on Burnt Store Road.

“Our department maintains a consistent traffic enforcement presence on Burnt Store Road,” the statement reads. “We have conducted thousands of traffic stops and numerous selective traffic enforcement operations along this roadway. Burnt Store Road is a county-maintained route, and safety requires a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies and the county.”

Ott believes increased patrols could make a significant difference.

“The presence there, maybe it makes everybody think twice about speeding,” he said.

The letter from Commissioner Pendergrass also directs the county manager to work with the Department of Transportation staff to implement immediate safety measures and continue with long-term improvements like the Burnt Store Road widening project.