goodoleboy (anonymous) says...

How sad this is, the real tragedy is that all this would likely not have happened if the county would take it upon themselves to level out the hill on this road out so that people can see each other. It is the emergency flood route after all. Hope everyone is OK.

February 19, 2010 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bystander66 (anonymous) says...

I know them both. Really great kids. I hope they both are ok! Please keep their family in your prayers!

February 19, 2010 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

luvsnow1 (anonymous) says...

This is truely a sad time - but there is no need to put blame on anyone - for we do not know what exactly happend. I too know both of these kids and all we can do is pray that they pull through and come home very soon.

February 19, 2010 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

goodoleboy (anonymous) says...

luvsnow1,

I do not know if you are familiar with the location, but many a certified letter have been written, many a resident has complained and this is not even close to the first time an accident has occurred here. This is a tragic event I wish all those involved a speedy recovery, but this is a very unsafe area where this accident took place. I hope the county takes notice and acts accordingly, as I stated earlier this is an emergency flood route, there is no excuse.

February 19, 2010 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

solong (anonymous) says...

This is an extremely dangerous hill, I have personally witnessed vehicles airborne going both directions at the crest of this hill many times. Approximately 10 years ago I wrote a registered letter to the county requesting they place warning, hill, keep right signs at this location. I still have that letter and the receipt they signed upon getting it. They responded by placing hill, 30 m.p.h. signs up, the westbound one being approximately 400 ft. from the crest of the hill and the eastbound one being 800 ft. from the crest of the hill. The eastbound sign, which apparently was the direction they were traveling, was knocked down several years ago and not re-established, so there was no warning for this hill from that direction. This is on the emergency flood route, the only way to Emporia when we have high water. There have been so many accidents and near accidents here over the years we who live in the area know about the hill but to the unfamiliar it is extremely dangerous. I knew it was just a matter of time before this would happen, I personally slow to 20 m.p.h. and stay as far to the right as I can when I drive over this hill. I have seen combines and swathers come over the crest taking up the entire road, trucks at high speeds go airborne, cars go out of control sideways in the lose gravel. I believe the only reason there are not numerous accidents there when the flood route is in use is because the roads are so sloppy people have to slow down or lose control. Unfortunately, until people die nothing will be done about it, that is the way things are done. I hope that is not the case, deaths or crippling injuries should not happen because of this, but unless something aggressive is done here you will read about accidents on this hill again. For those of you are unfamiliar the hill is 1 mile west of the intersection of Hwy 99 and Road 130.

February 19, 2010 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )