In the aftermath of a tragic car accident that killed two young Jacksonians on Aug. 4 at the intersection of Windy City and McClellan roads, the Madison County Highway Committee met on Wednesday to discuss remedial solutions at the intersection.
Aaliyah Ayala, 21, and her boyfriend Connor White, 20, lost their lives at the intersection after a collision with another vehicle. Ayala's sister Brynnlee Merriwether, 17, was an occupant in the vehicle with the couple and was airlifted to Regional One Hospital in Memphis for treatment.
The driver of the vehicle they collided with was taken for treatment at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
In its initial investigation, the Jackson Police Department noted that potential negligence to abide by a traffic control device and failure to wear seatbelts, were contributing factors to the injuries.
Now sitting on the roadside of the notoriously dangerous intersection is a memorial for Ayala and White, decorated with flowers, crosses, photos and kind notes.
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The intersection is within Jackson city limits while the western portion of McClellan Road is part of Madison County, and hence, why the county's Highway Committee addressed the accident at Wednesday's meeting.
In the days after the accident, Jackson Mayor Scott Conger shared that the city is implementing the following immediate measures:
- rumble strips for McClellan Rd and Windy City Rd.
- flashing stop signs
- flashing intersection warning signs
- increased signage
- vegetation removal and private property owners are instructed to cut back vegetation.
Before these new measures, there were stop signs at McClellan Road with cars traveling on Windy City Road having the right of way.
There is legally very little the county can do considering the intersection's boundary within city limits, but is committed nonetheless to assisting the city in any safety measures it takes.
"The number one thing that we're concerned within the county is safety of the citizens on our roads, safety of our employees as we work on the roads, and so that's where our focus is and there's nothing that we do that's any more important than someone's life," Bart Walls, Chief Administrative Officer for the Madison County Highway Department, said.
"When it comes to these things like this, we're very willing to work together for the betterment of the county and the community as a whole."
Though the city offered to cover the cost of all new measures in its entirety, Walls says that the county is willing to reimburse them for the cost of rumble strips and flashing stop signs for its portion of McClellan Rd, totaling between $1,500 and $2,000.
The possibility of a roundabout or something equivalent was discussed at the Highway Committee, noting that a physical structure would force a vehicle to slow down in a way that stop signs don't always accomplish.
Costing upwards of $3 million, the financial feasibility of constructing a roundabout is a concern.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, federal funds are available to cover 100% of the cost for roundabout construction. However, this is highly competitive nationwide as thousands of cities seek to be awarded.
"I'm of the opinion that if there is a cost burden to do even more than just the rumble strips or whatever is, if that's preventing them from doing more, I would be interested in seeing how much it would cost total then doing a cost-share to possibly upgrade those intersections," Madison County Commissioner Jeff Wall, District 9, said.
"It's happened so many times it's not even funny and it's going to continue to happen."
Remembering Ayala and White
A vigil was held in the parking lot of Trinity Christian Academy on the evening of Aug. 9, just one mile down the road from where the accident occurred. Family, friends, former classmates, coworkers and community members gathered to share countless stories about the love and joy they brought to everyone's life.
Lifelong best friend Ellie Ramirez says she has known Ayalas since the day she was born. She affectionately referred to Ayala as being like her sister and another member of the family. The two grew up going on family trips together, dancing, and playing softball together since they were five.
"If you don't have good teammates then you're not going to win games and so having someone who is positive and uplifting, that's going to make you want to keep playing, show up to practice, show up to games, but if you don't have the person then the team's going to fall apart, and she was really what held everyone together," she said.
Ramirez met White through Ayala when the couple were still just friends. She says the two were friends for several years before becoming a couple and were approaching their one-year anniversary.
"They would give you the shirt off their back. They were just the sweetest, kindest people and they both shared a love for animals, they would take in every dog if they could. And they loved to travel, just loved traveling," Ramirez said.
"They've touched so many lives and just don't even realize it."
The adventurous duo also shared a love for music, singing their last live songs on Saturday night at a Kenny Chesney and Megan Moroney concert, merely 24 hours before the accident.
"I don't think they had school in their plans, they just wanted to make money and travel. They were just focused on traveling and now it makes sense. They lived life to the fullest. I think they knew that their time was coming so they lived it to the fullest," Ramirez said.
Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here .
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Jackson intersection of deadly Aug. 4 car crash debated by Madison Co. Highway Committee
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