© Tampa Tribune, published April 2, 1999

Crash victims' families to rally for safer road

By DARLENE MCCORMICK

Joan Landrum fixes a ribbon an a wreath she placed in the median of Hillsborough Avenue at Mertens Street in Tampa, where her 15-year-old son, Mark, was hit and killed by a car in June, 1994.

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - A rally to lower the speed limit and put in traffic signals along West Hillsborough Avenue will be Saturday.

Bruce Murakami can't bring back his wife and child, who died in a fiery crash on West Hillsborough Avenue in November.

But he hopes to bring about change that could save someone else's life.

Murakami has joined others in the neighborhood in the fight to slow traffic along West Hillsborough Avenue near Elliot Drive. There is also a push to add traffic lights and a crosswalk.

Murakami will join Joan Landrum, president of Tampa Shores/Imperial Key Civic Association, at a rally Saturday in front of Publix supermarket, 10019 W. Hillsborough Ave.

"If a light had been there, my wife and child would be alive today," Murakami said.

His wife, Cindy, 45, and daughter, Chelsea, 11, were killed as they pulled out of the Publix plaza Nov. 16. A car hit their van broadside. The van burst into flames.

The accident focused attention on a stretch of road many label a killer.

Since 1993, at least six motorists and pedestrians have died on West Hillsborough between Tampa Shores Boulevard and Halifax Drive. The speed limit on the six-lane highway is 55 mph. The portion raising concern has no traffic lights.

Volunteers will be outside Publix from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. collecting signatures for a petition. The petition calls for the speed limit to be lowered to 45 mph; traffic lights in front of Publix and the entrance to Tampa Shores/Imperial Key subdivision; and a crosswalk just west of Elliot, where Landrum's 15-year-old son, Mark, was killed in 1994.

Landrum said she has 1,000 signatures and wants 4,000 more.

Murakami and his attorney, Bill Winters, said their own investigation of the November accident has shown speeding and drag racing were involved. Winters said he plans to file a lawsuit.

Florida Highway Patrol officials would not comment, saying their investigation is not complete.

Witnesses told authorities that two cars were drag racing before the accident.

Authorities have said Cindy Murakami was at least partially at fault because she did not have the right of way.