Chesapeake, Va. - After witnessing several accidents and dozens of car tires blow out in front of their business, Angelo's Tires and Automotive Repair wants a permanent fix.
The shop is located right in front of the intersection of Baugher Avenue and South Military Highway.
According to Chesapeake Police, there have been 11 accidents at the intersection over the past two years, but Angelos' staff say they have seen about a dozen in the past year alone, many that were not reported to police.
“The regular speed limit is 45. Most people are going 55. They pull out and they get smacked,” says Angelo Camacho, owner of Angelo's Tires and Automotive Repair.
In addition to that, Camacho says a portion of South Military Highway, leading up to their business, is deteriorating.
“We had one lady who was in a pickup truck and she actually rode into the ditch. I was afraid she was going to come into our parked cars,” says Ashleigh Simpson, office secretary. “I want people to come here because they're happy to see us, not because they've just destroyed their car right in front of our shop and we did nothing to try to stop it.”
After making at least nine calls to the city, Simpson says she decided to call NewsChannel 3 to get results.
She says the city wanted them to get petitions, go to planning meetings and fill out paperwork, but it's something the seven-day business hasn't had time to do.
NewsChannel 3 reached out to the city more than once on Wednesday. A spokesman tells us a project to put in a left turning lane from South Military Highway onto Baugher Avenue will start in the next few days. Crews will also do curb work, according to the city.
An operations team is also expected to come out to the intersection and see if there is anything else that should be done to address safety concerns.
Simpson says they had no idea about the project, but she hopes it solves the problem before they witness any more of them.
“I don't want to be the person who runs to help somebody and it's too late."
