<\/p>\n
A lone cross marks the passing of a motorist at the corner of Tamiami Trail and Chamberlin Boulevard. This intersection is one of the most dangerous in Charlotte County.<\/p>\n
SUN PHOTO BY ROBERT YORK<\/p>\n
PORT CHARLOTTE \u2014 Corey Tetrick was driving northeast along Chamberlain Boulevard on a late August Day in 2023. In his passenger seat was a cake he had baked with care. Baking was one of the perks of his job as a chef at the Villages on the Isle.<\/p>\n
Tetrick approached the U.S. 41 intersection at Chamberlain and he found an opening between the fast-moving traffic.<\/p>\n
He accelerated into the open space.<\/p>\n
In an instant, a collision happened.<\/p>\n
Tetrick died at the scene.<\/p>\n
Statistically, U.S. 41 and Chamberlain Boulevard is Charlotte County\u2019s most dangerous intersection. A total of six serious injuries and two fatalities have occurred there between 2023 and July 2026.<\/p>\n
As the county experiences thousands of crashes each year, the Florida Department of Transportation continues to find ways to improve the most dangerous intersections. While no changes have been made at the Chamberlin intersection, other dangerous crossings are beginning to get the attention of safety experts and changes are being made.<\/p>\n
The Latest vehicle accident statistics<\/p>\n
Between 2023 and July 2026, there have been a total of 14,679 car crashes. Of those, 3.45% of car crashes were KSI \u2014 which indicates crashes that involve serious injuries or fatalities.<\/p>\n
As of July, there have been 2,251 crashes in 2026.<\/p>\n
According to 2023-2026 (July) data, the top five intersections that resulted in fatalities were:<\/p>\n
U.S. 41 and Chamberlain BoulevardState Road 31 and Bermont RoadState Road 776 and David BoulevardKings Highway and U.S. 41SR 776 and Pinedale Drive<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Every orange dot represents an accident. A red dot symbolizes a fatality. The bigger each dot, the greater amount of KSIs.<\/p>\n
MAP CREATED BY JAMES STEPHENS. DATA FROM METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The total amount of car crashes every year between 2023 to July of 2026.<\/p>\n
CHART CREATED BY JAMES STEPHENS. DATA FROM METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The total amount of car crash KSIs every year between 2023 to July of 2026.<\/p>\n
CHART CREATED BY JAMES STEPHENS. DATA FROM METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The total amount of car crashes resulting in a serious injury every year between 2023 to July of 2026.<\/p>\n
CHART CREATED BY JAMES STEPHENS. DATA FROM METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The total amount of car crashes resulting in a fatality every year between 2023 to July of 2026.<\/p>\n
CHART CREATED BY JAMES STEPHENS. DATA FROM METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n
These intersections had a total of seven fatalities and 25 serious injuries. Three involved a bike or pedestrian.<\/p>\n
All county car crashes are documented by the Charlotte County-Punta Gorda Metropolitan Planning Organization, a state-mandated agency responsible for transportation planning in areas with population over 50,000.<\/p>\n
Cpl. Matthew Sill, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper who has worked in the homicide unit for 11 years, said a common reason that fatal crashes occur at intersections with traffic lights are drivers trying to make the yellow light.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t quite get into the intersection prior to the light changing into red, and then traffic from the opposing lanes start to flow,\u201d Sill said. \u201cThen, we have an angular collision.<\/p>\n
Another common reason for collisions are drivers failing to reduce speeds.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr, it is a front-to-rear collision, where the vehicle that\u2019s in front is reducing speed to stop at the intersection, and then the vehicle behind does not reduce speed,\u201d Sill said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The median at U.S. 41 and Chamberlain Blvd. uses stop signs as the only barrier.<\/p>\n
SUN PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n
Sill said median intersections like U.S. 41 and Chamberlain have crashes due to vehicles speeding.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re doing the 50 mph as you come around the curve, you should be able to observe traffic that\u2019s either trying to turn left or trying to go straight,\u201d Sill said. \u201cTraffic that is either stopped at the intersection \u2026 should be able to have enough time to observe traffic and then make a reasonable decision whether or not they should enter the roadway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vehicles speeding across U.S. 41 limit the reaction time of others either merging or crossing the intersection. Meanwhile, vehicles that do not properly yield to the posted stop signs can cause accidents as well.<\/p>\n
Sill said drivers need to remain aware at all times.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to drive as though there\u2019s nothing else in that vehicle, nothing distracting you,\u201d Sill said. \u201cFocus completely on the roadway so that you can see all the traffic and everything that\u2019s coming at you from all different directions.\u201d<\/p>\n
New safety measures deployed<\/p>\n
FDOT has completed some roadway improvement projects over the past few years to combat fatal car collisions.<\/p>\n
As a response to State Road 31 and Bermont Road\u2019s crash record in eastern Charlotte County, FDOT installed a roundabout to replace the intersection\u2019s four-way stop.<\/p>\n
Included in the roundabout\u2019s installation was the milling and resurfacing of the roadway, an updated drainage, the installation of new lighting and signs.<\/p>\n
MPO Director Lakshmi N. Gurram confirmed that the fatalities along Bermont Road occurred before the roundabout.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you have a roundabout, the amount of fatalities and serious injuries go down drastically,\u201d Gurram said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoundabouts naturally lower vehicle speeds and eliminate high-speed angle and head-on collisions\u2014 the types of crashes most likely to cause serious injury or fatalities,\u201d FDOT wrote via email.<\/p>\n
The roundabout was completed<\/a> on June 15. As of July 2026, there have been three crashes and no KSIs.<\/p>\n As the MPO continues to gather data, time will tell if fewer fatal crashes will occur at that intersection.<\/p>\n FDOT recently installed flexible traffic poles as a barrier for left-turn lanes in the median at SR 776 and David Blvd.<\/p>\n SUN PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n FDOT also adjusted the median intersection at SR 776 and David Boulevard<\/a> and in several other medians from Englewood to El Jobean. Rather than remaining as an open median, the intersection and others are now directional, only permitting left-turns at specific points along the road rather than allowing right-turn and straightaway access.<\/p>\n There are also flexible traffic poles installed along the left-turn lane that are luminescent at night.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n