Family urges crosswalk and lighting after teen struck on Bristol Road; council to contact county

A grieving father urged Burton City Council to add lighting and a marked crosswalk at Bristol Road east of Fenton Road after his son was struck by a car on Oct. 9.

My name is Andrew Comstock, I live at 3503 Kings Lane Boulevard, Burton, Michigan, Andrew Comstock told the council during the audience participation portion. "My 16 year old son should not be 6 feet under." He said poor lighting and the lack of a marked crossing contributed to the crash and asked the city to act so other families would not suffer similar losses.

The request mattered to the council because the crash involved a local teenager and led to a public plea for a concrete safety change in a place residents use on foot. Laura Jacobs, who also lives on Kings Lane, told the council that lighting and a marked crosswalk could have made the difference. "Lighting and a crosswalk could have saved his life," Jacobs said.

Council members and staff said they will investigate next steps but cautioned the council's authority is limited for traffic signals. Councilman Heffner asked that city administration contact the county because traffic signals are handled by the county. The mayor agreed to have a city staff member in public works or engineering contact the county to request review and identify possible options.

City officials did not promise a specific change or timeline at the meeting. Council members discussed that some traffic-control measures (including signals) are under the jurisdiction of the county and must be coordinated with the Genesee County Road Commission or county traffic engineers.

The family gave the council the location where the crash occurred and asked the city to consider short-term improvements such as additional lighting and a marked crossing while county or multiagency planning proceeds. Council members and staff said they would follow up with the family and attempt to coordinate next steps with county officials.