US 62, Ohio 661 intersection concerns residents
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP – Dennis Conard has seen a lot of horrific things at the intersection of U.S. 62 and Ohio 661.
“I’ve seen Life Flight more than I can count on both hands,” he said. “It happens so many times, they all run together.”
A lifetime of growing up in Utica and working at Affordable Fab and Truck Repair on that intersection since 1991 has provided its fair share of visual horror for Conard. He spoke about a crash in 2012 in which three people were killed in one vehicle.
“They were all alive when I got to the car,” he said.
Conard described the helplessness he feels when he hears the crashes occur.
“There’s nothing you can do. Just stand there and try to help and not let anybody else wreck,” he said.
Between 2010 and 2014, 18 crashes were reported at the intersection, one of those being fatal, according to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. On Jan. 30, a 76-year-old woman was killed in a crash at the intersection.
Of the 18 crashes between 2010 and 2014, 10 involved injury. The majority of the crashes, 12 of them, were caused by failure to yield.
Lt. Kevin Miller, of the Granville post of the patrol, said many of the crashes involve drivers who stop at the stop signs but fail to check both ways or do not see traffic coming on U.S. 62.
The intersection is set up with a two-way stop on Ohio 661. There is a light at the intersection that flashes yellow for U.S. 62 and red for Ohio 661.
Drivers who travel the intersection frequently, such as Josh Scarberry of Utica, have different opinions about what could be done to make the intersection safer.
“Stop signs and caution lights are already there,” Scarberry said. “The only situation that would be good at all would be a four-way light.”
While some have suggested a roundabout at the intersection, Scarberry said with the number of tractor-trailers and pieces of farm equipment in the area, a roundabout wouldn’t be a viable solution.
The Ohio Department of Transportation began a traffic study on the intersection in October, spokesperson Ericka Pfeifer said. The study, which is expected to be completed in the spring, will include historic crash data, traffic data and recommendations to address safety concerns.
Pfeifer said ODOT began the study after the intersection was put on a statewide list of the 500 biggest safety priorities. Because of higher traffic volumes during the school year, the study was started in October.
The intersection is slated to be discussed at the next district safety review team meeting, she said.
Conard said the road has been bad for as long as he can remember.
“I can remember my mom bringing me home one night and there was a van and a car,” he said. “Mom wouldn’t let me out of the car. She was one of the first ones there.”
Conard thinks the solution could be lighted stop signs that draw attention to the intersection.
“How’s it going to stop if what’s there now won’t do it?” he said. “If they double those (lighted stop signs) up on each side of the road, I can’t say it would deter it all, but it would probably stop three-quarters of it because it gets your attention.”
Conard said the rumble strips on the road, warning of the intersection, have worn out. The road is scheduled for repaving in 2015, and Conard hopes the rumble strips will be replaced as well. He also hopes a pole holding the flashing lights will be moved from its current position, which could block sight of some oncoming traffic for some drivers.
“The pole would block a whole car for a split second,” he said.
Alissa Davies suggested an increased police presence at the intersection in a comment on Facebook.
“Maybe if ... people started getting tickets they would slow down, stop and look,” she wrote.
Bret Layman said some drivers unfamiliar with the road may not realize it is not a four-way stop.
“They think after they stop, they can go and oncoming traffic needs to stop,” he wrote on Facebook.
One thing most people in the area agreed on is a need for something to change at the intersection.
Patrol Lt. Kevin Miller said troopers are going to have an increased presence on U.S. 62, including that intersection, in February.
In the past 12 months, four fatal crashes occurred on the road, two of those since Dec. 31. Miller said the entire highway is a concern for troopers, who would like to see the number of fatal crashes in the county decrease.
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What people are saying
These comments were posted on The Advocate’s Facebook page after drivers were asked about their thoughts on the intersection.
•“I have lived in the area my entire life and have never had an issue at that intersection. Its (sic) called abiding by traffic laws and practicing safe driving skills.” — Nick Richards
•“I live in Homer. I’m thinking a traffic light is probably the only solution there. It’s kind of an odd place to have one for people going east and west but if you’ve ever been on 62 in the morning or evening...wow.” — Josh Valentine
•“I drive through every day to and from work and everyday someone darts out in front of me. Weather (sic) they are crossing the road or pulling out in front of me to get ahead. I always slow down when I approach that intersection and keep an eye both ways.” — Addy Smith
•“A stop light isn’t going to prevent accidents—there’s already stop signs, flashing lights and rumble strips. People will run the light on 62 as they do on 661. A roundabout would force both sides to slow down, navigate the intersection with minimal backups.” — Craig Gibson
•“A traffic light won’t solve the problem, nor would it be practical. There is plenty of time to see the stop coming both ways on 661. Look once, look twice, look three times before pulling onto 62.”— Kaylee Savage
•“There is already a flashing light there and a stop sign, just pay attention. Not everyone should have to suffer cause some people can’t/don’t pay attention or follow the rules.”— Christine Broehl
By the numbers
18 : Crashes between 2010 and 2014
10: Injury crashes between 2010 and 2014
2: Fatal crashes between 2010 and Feb. 5
12: Crashes between 2010 and 2014 caused by failure to yield