Change for Cara
Change for Cara
The Issue
Hello,
My name is Leia Gardner. On Friday, January 23rd, 2026, my beloved twin sister, Cara Gardner, sadly passed away in a tragic accident at the intersection of NC-118 and Cannon-Price Road.
Her death was preventable.
Between 2020-2024, there have been 16 accidents at this location (NCDOT,NC Total Crash Frequency By Intersection). If you are familiar with this area, you know that this intersection is difficult to see and maneuver. I drove this all the time to go to the beach or to visit my sister. She also drove this very frequently to visit her family in Greenville. We are no strangers to safe driving as it took both of us years to be licensed due to a serious accident in our childhood that left our family with car-related anxiety.
In the immediate aftermath of her passing, her death was posted by several news outlets that allowed negative comments to be posted, but also shed light on the intersection and the issues people face. From reading these, I have gathered that truckers are no longer allowed to turn onto Cannon-Price Road and must instead turn onto Stokestown-St. John's Road, where there have been five crashes in this time period. On NC-118, people have also noted that speeding is a problem ahead of the curve and blind spots at this intersection.
Cara was only 23. Her death could have been prevented.
To prevent further injury and fatalities, here is a list of suggestions that could and should be considered by NCDOT for implementation, to prevent further families from suffering the unimaginable grief my family is now suffering, since Cara’s death.
Suggestions:
- Insert more speed limit signs ahead of this intersection
- Lower the speed before the curve
- Make this an all-way stop
- Close the end of Cannon-Price Road and make State Road 1916 the only entrance/exit
- Post signs that flash when a vehicle is entering the highway
- Roundabout at this intersection
The signpostings that are present (Mar 2024, Google Street View) are simply not enough to prevent accidents at this intersection. More can and should be done to prevent further unnecessary risk, injury and loss of life.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Leia Gardner
MA Global Security and Borders
BA History and Psychology
1,441
The Issue
Hello,
My name is Leia Gardner. On Friday, January 23rd, 2026, my beloved twin sister, Cara Gardner, sadly passed away in a tragic accident at the intersection of NC-118 and Cannon-Price Road.
Her death was preventable.
Between 2020-2024, there have been 16 accidents at this location (NCDOT,NC Total Crash Frequency By Intersection). If you are familiar with this area, you know that this intersection is difficult to see and maneuver. I drove this all the time to go to the beach or to visit my sister. She also drove this very frequently to visit her family in Greenville. We are no strangers to safe driving as it took both of us years to be licensed due to a serious accident in our childhood that left our family with car-related anxiety.
In the immediate aftermath of her passing, her death was posted by several news outlets that allowed negative comments to be posted, but also shed light on the intersection and the issues people face. From reading these, I have gathered that truckers are no longer allowed to turn onto Cannon-Price Road and must instead turn onto Stokestown-St. John's Road, where there have been five crashes in this time period. On NC-118, people have also noted that speeding is a problem ahead of the curve and blind spots at this intersection.
Cara was only 23. Her death could have been prevented.
To prevent further injury and fatalities, here is a list of suggestions that could and should be considered by NCDOT for implementation, to prevent further families from suffering the unimaginable grief my family is now suffering, since Cara’s death.
Suggestions:
- Insert more speed limit signs ahead of this intersection
- Lower the speed before the curve
- Make this an all-way stop
- Close the end of Cannon-Price Road and make State Road 1916 the only entrance/exit
- Post signs that flash when a vehicle is entering the highway
- Roundabout at this intersection
The signpostings that are present (Mar 2024, Google Street View) are simply not enough to prevent accidents at this intersection. More can and should be done to prevent further unnecessary risk, injury and loss of life.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Leia Gardner
MA Global Security and Borders
BA History and Psychology
1,441
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on January 28, 2026