Marion County family on edge as drivers blow through stop signs near their home

A family living on the corner of Southeast 115th Place Road and Guava Pass in Ocklawaha says drivers regularly blow through stop signs and speed through the intersection — and they’re worried someone is going to get hurt.

Joel Hickman has lived at the corner for four years. He says the dangerous driving started just a couple of months ago, but it’s already bad enough that he worries every time his kids play in the front yard or his family pulls out of the driveway.

“It’s pretty concerning because, you know, the more we started thinking about it, like there could be an accident there and then a vehicle would come into the house,” Hickman said. “And so it’s just, it’s weird that people don’t care anymore.”

What’s happening at the intersection

The speed limit on the road is 30 miles per hour, but drivers are reportedly exceeding it while also running the stop signs. Florida Highway Patrol responded to a crash at the intersection in April.

A drive through the area shows visibility is part of the problem. Vegetation and other obstructions block sightlines, making it difficult to see oncoming traffic until a driver is right at the stop sign.

Sheriff’s office responds

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office received Hickman’s complaint last week. A deputy issued a written warning for speeding and running the stop sign this week.

Whether that’s enough to change driver behavior remains to be seen. Hickman and his family are hoping the county takes additional steps to make the intersection safer.

A request for comment was submitted to Marion County’s road department asking whether officials plan to install extra safety measures — such as flashing lights on the stop signs — but they have not yet responded to our request.