DeLAND, Fla. – News 6 is getting answers about the state's response to fix a dangerous intersection through emails requested through public records.
On April 5, just past noon, a grandmother and her three granddaughters, all under the age of 4, died in a fiery crash at the intersection of SR 44 and Grand Avenue.
It took only three hours before FDOT got the first complaint, according to the emails. That complaint was from Amy Mason.
"I called them immediately and asked them, 'How many lives does it take to get a light here?'" she said.
Minutes after Mason's complaint, emails started spreading within the department, filled with words like "urgent," "sensitive' and "high priority," saying they are expected to be flooded with calls on this.
It wasn't long before FDOT officials got the call from Tallahassee, from Secretary of Transportation Jim Boxold, according to the emails.
One read: "This has created a lot of outcry from the public regarding need for safety improvements to this intersection. Secretary Boxold asked Secretary Downs for a commitment of when we could have this improvement implemented...."
It goes on to say: "The District has committed to Secretary Boxold to get the project underway within 6-7 months."
The price tag for the project? $1.35 million.
That money, through the emails, we learned was found within this year's fiscal budget -- money that allegedly wasn't there before the deadly crash happened.
"I'm so glad that they hurried up," Mason said. "I think there will be a lot of lives that will be saved. I'm just sorry for the family."
Attached in the emails, News 6 also found a scheduled timeline for the roundabout. Construction is expected to begin in June.
Several people have protested against the roundabout, wanting a permanent light there instead. FDOT says they plan on rolling out a roundabout education plan at a River to Sea TPO meeting tomorrow.