CUDJOE KEY, Fla. – One week after Local 10 News highlighted concerns over a construction site crash in the Florida Keys, the Monroe County sheriff says changes could be coming to the area.
The fiery crash killed the driver of a semi-truck in the early morning hours of Dec. 5 along U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 21 on Cudjoe Key, where the sheriff said he warned state transportation officials about unsafe conditions there. Residents said they feared poor lighting and a lane shift could cause a wreck.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver died after crashing into a line of concrete barriers where the southbound lane shifts into the center turn lane.
On Monday morning, Sheriff Rick Ramsay and County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln met at the site with four representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation.
An FDOT spokesperson did not disclose what the outcome of the meeting was, but Ramsay said the representatives, “seemed to acknowledge the area could have been safer,” and are considering putting lighting at the site and reducing speed in the area, changes he said he wanted when construction began.
Since the crash, more of barrel-type barricades are now up, and well in advance of the lane shift.
Trees also appear to have been trimmed to reveal construction signs.
In a statement last week, FDOT told Local 10 they were, “not currently aware of a call or recent notice of concern raised from any community partner, including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.”
“They’re lying,” Ramsay said.