Charlotte Adds Four-Way Stops After Child's Death
The Charlotte Department of Transportation plans new stop signs and warnings at Barrington and Lanecrest drives after a fatal hit-and-run.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Secondary Education
A 6-year-old girl named Mariana Espinoza was struck and killed at the intersection of Barrington Drive and Lanecrest Drive in east Charlotte on October 23, after getting off a school bus. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police later arrested a 17-year-old who investigators said fled the scene.
Why it matters
Espinoza's death prompted neighbors to call for measures to slow traffic in the area, and the city's planned changes respond directly to that concern. For Charlotte families with children who ride school buses, the intersection's safety is now a visible local issue.
The intersection does not have curb ramps at all four corners, and the Charlotte Department of Transportation is not planning to add marked crosswalks, though it is collecting traffic data along Barrington Drive. The city has not announced a completion date for the planned four-way stop conversion.
The players
Charlotte Department of Transportation
The city agency responsible for street design and traffic controls in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is overseeing the intersection changes.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
The law enforcement agency serving Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, which made the arrest in the hit-and-run investigation.
The details
The Charlotte Department of Transportation plans to convert the intersection into a four-way stop and add warning signs for drivers approaching it. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested the 17-year-old suspect days after the crash, and investigators said the teen fled the scene.
Timeline
October 23, 2026: Mariana Espinoza was struck at the intersection after getting off a school bus.
Days after the crash: Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested the 17-year-old suspect.
Soon after the reporting period: Stop signs are expected to be installed at the intersection.
Secondary Education
The intersection changes respond to a child's death near a school bus stop, which places this incident within Charlotte's ongoing traffic-safety work around schools. Changes like these are the kind of local road-safety measures that often follow when young pedestrians are hurt near school routes.
Drivers who use Barrington Drive and Lanecrest Drive should expect new stop signs and warning signs once installation is complete. Parents of children who ride buses in east Charlotte may want to review bus-stop safety with their families.
The takeaway
Drivers should slow down and stop fully near school bus stops, especially where children exit into traffic. Families can ask their school or city transportation office about safety changes near their children's routes.
Further reading
For related coverage of school routes and student safety, see Secondary Education in Charlotte.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wbtv.
