Physicians Wrongful Death in Howard County Motivates Safety Improvements on Route 32

Tragically, Sykesville, Maryland physician, Brian emery was killed on Thursday September 10, 2009 on Maryland Route 32 near his home. Dr. Emery had been a supporter of an area coalition focused on making the area on Route 32 between Route 99 and the Carroll County line safer. This group, aptly named Make Route 32 safe.com  can be reached on the web at http://www.makeroute32safe.com/index.html

The group has a variety of constructive suggestions to reduce the perils of Route 32 in the Sykesville vicinity. These include designated left turm lanes off of Route 32 and the addition of a traffic light, quite possibly at the intersection with Amberwoods Way where Dr. Emery was killed.

This incident follows on the heels of another deadly accident in the vicinity of River Road and Route 32 on Wednesday June 24th, 2009 in which a young man and his mother were killed. The Make Route 32 safe website notes numerous other incidents and is a testament to the need for immediate action by Howard County and the State of Maryland.

Long term plans exist to make siginificant improvements but have been unfunded. Proposed immediate "short-term" actions include repaving and restriping areas near Sykesville and if the road surface will accomodate it, using shoulder areas as designated through lanes with left lanes for left turning vehicles.