Petition Launched To Add Traffic Light At Fatal Crash Site In Burke

BURKE, VA — Neighbors have launched an online petition to get Fairfax County to add a traffic light to Burke Centre Parkway, where a July 18 crash killed a teenage girl and seriously injured three other teens.

Rebekah Zarco, 17, was killed in the crash last Tuesday night, as she was trying to turn left from the Burke Centre Shopping Center onto Burke Centre Parkway. Three other teenagers in the car, including Rebekah’s brother, remain hospitalized in serious condition.

The crash happened around 9 p.m. in the 5700 block of Burke Centre Parkway. Fairfax County police determined the driver of a 2014 Cadillac XTS4 was traveling westbound on Burke Centre Parkway. The Cadillac struck a 2023 Kia Forte, driven by Rebekah, as it was attempting to turn left from the parking lot onto Burke Centre Parkway.

“We send our condolences to the family of the beautiful soul that was taken from us too soon, Rebekah Alexis Zarco, as she tragically passed away at the scene of the accident,” the online petition reads. “We pray for a speedy recovery for David Zarco as well as the two other Robinson students who have been hospitalized for their injuries.”

Rebekah had just graduated from Robinson Secondary School and was planning to attend George Mason University in the fall.

“Adding a traffic light will serve justice for Rebekah and the injured, as well as create a safer road environment and prevent another devastation in our community,” the petition reads.

READ ALSO: Teen Girl Killed In Burke Crash Planned To Attend George Mason In Fall

Police, who have not released the name of the driver of the Cadillac, continue to investigate the crash. The FCPD said its detectives believe preliminarily that speed “was a contributing factor in the crash.” No charges have been filed yet in the crash.

A funeral service for Rebekah Zarco is scheduled for 10 a.m. on July 29 at Expectation Church, at 1924 Braddock Road, DC News Now reported Friday.

As of Monday morning, the online petition for a traffic light had received more than 1,560 signatures. One person wrote on the petition that she drives past this intersection multiple times a day and has seen many bad accidents there. "Something needs to be changed!" she wrote.

Others suggest that instead of a traffic light at the Burke Centre Shopping center, traffic engineers should connect the median completely to prevent drivers from making a left turn onto Burke Centre Parkway.

"It’ll force one way of access to the shopping center and no exit for the intersection," the person wrote. "In addition, having a traffic light can ruin the flow of traffic completely, as there’s already two lights going either direction. Therefore, connecting the median can bring a benefit to the flow of traffic and putting an end to the tragedy of car accidents. It’ll force exiting drivers to leave from the Shell gas station traffic light, being a safer alternative when leaving the shopping center."

Another person agreed that a new traffic light is not the answer, but they do not think extending the median on Burke Centre Parkway is the right move either.

"This would force traffic to the light at the Shell station, and traffic is already congested there much of the time," the person wrote. "The problem seems to be the long stretch of Burke Centre Parkway before the light at the church, especially if the light is green. I've caught myself speeding there often because it is so easy to do."

The person suggested that the traffic lights should not be timed to keep traffic moving. "Instead, time the traffic lights to stay red longer and force people to slow down. It will be inconvenient for many but may save a life," the person said.