Van, pickup collide Tuesday at Vest Street and U.S. 65

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

By SYDNEY STONNER/Staff writer

(Sydney Stonner/Democrat-News)

Marshall Police and Fire Departments and Saline County Ambulance District No. 3 respond to the scene of an automobile accident at the intersection of Vest Street and U.S. Highway 65 just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4. One person involved was treated at the scene and then transported via ambulance to Fitzgibbon Hospital. More information to follow when available.

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Folks, there have been many accidents at the Vest/65 intersection going back to the 60's when Marshall Inn (now Marshall Lodge/Bloomfields) was built. I have a relative who was almost killed there in 1968....long before Wal-Mart was a twinkle in Marshall's economic eye! It has always been a dangerous intersection. Stoplight at Arrow/65, Wal-Mart, College/65...maybe one more would really slow them down. That would be four lights really close together. Who knows? I do worry about buses transporting kids from the Saline County High School several times a day. Definitely, releasing teenage drivers at 3:00 who choose that route cannot be a good thing. Isn't Bill Stouffer on the Transportation committee? I would think he would be a good contact if you have a concern.

-- Posted by oneofmany on Mon, Aug 10, 2009, at 12:25 AM

Kathy,

Just as a comparison, and if you have the time, how many accidents at 65 and College at the lights. I'm past that area a lot during the day and I seem to remember more. More traffic of course but still the light doesn't prevent careless driving.

-- Posted by a realist on Sat, Aug 8, 2009, at 9:32 AM

"And just so we're clear - I'm interested in getting the facts on the table, no matter what the facts show."

If this were only true about all subjects..

-- Posted by Third Child on Sat, Aug 8, 2009, at 9:31 AM

And just so we're clear - I'm interested in getting the facts on the table, no matter what the facts show. If this intersection does have more accidents than others in the city, that's worth looking into. Thanks for your help!

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 8:10 PM

I've been doing some research about accidents on state highways in Missouri, generally, and at this intersection, specifically.

Here's a crash report, the latest available, for 2007:

http://www.modot.org/safety/documents/20...

The report shows that the majority of crashes, even those involving fatalities, happen in daylight in "ideal" weather. In 2007, a little more than 41% of the crashes were at intersections of highways with public streets (see page 58). Where a contributing cause could be identified, the top four causes are failure to yield, following too close, inattention and speeding.

Browsing through our online records, I only see two crashes at Highway 65 and Vest, on on May 10, 2007, and the other (this one) Aug. 4, 2009. If you know of other accidents, please let me know.

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 8:08 PM

From the behavior I have seen at that intersection, most accidents there are because people are too impatient to wait their turn, and they try to beat the traffic.

I use that intersection on a daily basis and patients is the key to safety there. I have seen a lot of close calls and most are because someone has sat there and gotten impatient and pulled out and miscalculated on the speed of the on coming traffic.

I just wait it out and only go when it is truly safe, I never try to pull out and hope I make it.

-- Posted by litlmissme on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 5:19 PM

Hombre: No problem! Stuff just happens that way sometimes.

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 1:15 PM

I simply avoid Vest and it has never caused me any problems to do so. I also agree that is HWY 65 not BUS-HWY 65. I have never visited a town with more lights on the main HWY then on the business HWY. Do we need to turn full city-like and insist on a HWY 65 Loop around town? It would cut down on accidents at Vest and 65 to cut down on the through traffic.

-- Posted by STLgirlMarshallMom on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 11:55 AM

Kathy..

I want to apologize about my last post..My computer is as slow as molasses and it had not updated the comments from a few days ago..and suddenly after my post there were 10-more there..

Thanks for responding..

-- Posted by Hombre on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 11:47 AM

Apparently nobody from the paper is going acknowledge that the comparison of the two intersections is no comparison at all..and shouldn't have been used in regards to the differnce in volume of traffic and the inherent dangers of such an intersection..

Take a look at the police accident reports sometime at Vest/65..Maybe no injuries in some of them but accidents none-the-less..The numbers are appalling, and no light has been placed there.

-- Posted by Hombre on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 11:42 AM

Couriousintown, your name fits you well because you obviously do not know what you are talkng about, I think if we had too many pizza places in town one would be going out of business, simple economics and morrow and 65 is not a dangerous intersection, less traffic and not a full intersection, its stupid for people to have to avoid an intersection, you know its time to do something about an intersection when people avoid it. Id like to see what the business owners at that intersection think about people having to avoid it and how it might affect their business

-- Posted by PaperPro on Thu, Aug 6, 2009, at 9:33 AM

In case someone has forgot, that part of 65 is not the BUSINESS part of the highway. This just kills me that WalMart needed a stop light and now you want to add another stop light at Vest street and then there is another light at 20 Highway. C'MON people if you are afraid to cross the highway at Vest street, don't go that way!!!! I HOPE someone really truly doesn't think that Marshall needs another stoplight. That is like saying we need another pizza restaurant. Get real! The turn at Morrow and 65 is just a treacherous as Vest and 65, it is just there is a shoulder to go over to the right to avoid that. Want big city stop lights go to the city!

-- Posted by Curiousintown on Wed, Aug 5, 2009, at 2:05 PM

Here's a story we did last fall on efforts to put a light at the intersection.

http://www.marshallnews.com/story/146584...

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Wed, Aug 5, 2009, at 6:50 AM

Putting turning lanes there (Vest & 65) will be the same situation as Morrow and Odell...a disaster.

-- Posted by Scarpetta on Wed, Aug 5, 2009, at 12:54 AM

I worry that having only turn lanes may make it more difficult to see oncoming traffic particularly from the left. Maybe we should get Wal-Mart to foot the bill for a stop light.

-- Posted by What the f...... on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 11:39 PM

i do believe there was study down by MoDOT, or someone, when they decided to put turning lanes at that intersection ... the conclusion was that turning lanes would solve the problem and that stoplights were not needed, would put too many stoplights along that route, paraphrasing there.

my thoughts to that are ... bunk! a stoplight has been needed at that intersection for years, and with walmart there now, it's even worse. turning lanes, in my opinion, are only going to make the situation worse ... more things to look at and more decisions to be made at an already confusing-enough intersection, by alot of drivers who aren't the safest or brightest. either a stoplight, or, the idea someone had on here previously - just make vest a dead-end street on the east side of that. that only takes care of one side of the intersection though, so .... stoplight NEEDED!

whoever did that study by MoDOT, obviously doesn't live in this town or is aware of that intersection's history. kathy fairchild states that it's up to the people to get on this and make it happen ... how bout also something pro-active from the paper to lead this? isn't that part of your job and role, after all, to lead on issues like this - you have more access and contacts and influence to people and places that can make things happen, more than the average joe.

i avoid that intersection at all costs. it's a pain to try to get across from either direction, and is the unsafest in town by far. i'd rather sit at a few stoplights than have to deal with the current status.

just my two cents worth ...

-- Posted by aikman8 on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 10:28 PM

Kathy,

Thanks for the info...so noted.

Side note: I too love Scarpetta..I struggled with "Book of the Dead" so I am trying to work up the courage to read "Scarpetta"...needless to say it is still sitting idle waiting to flip the first pages.

-- Posted by Scarpetta on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 9:40 PM

Wasn't there an article done the last time there was an accident at this intersection about how many accidents there have been in comparison at the College-65 intersection even after the intersection was widened and the new lights were installed? Also, it was mentioned about the light at Wal-Mart and that one could simply use College St., or Vest St. if there was a light there. Why can't people use the light at Arrow/65 if they are in such a hurry?

-- Posted by spareme on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 7:56 PM

Maybe a petition for a stoplight at that intersection by the voting public is in order. It's even more a danger spot durring school.

-- Posted by harleybuff072001 on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 7:28 PM

Eric..

With response to the "study"..do you know how many vehicles cross the 240-Odell intersection a day and how many cross the Vest/65 intersection?

I guarantee you the 240/Odell numbers pale in comparison to the number of vehicles per day that pass by the Vest/65 intersection...so with all due respect the "drive safer aspect" is a part of any intersection or any driving situation.

The massive wait you see of drivers backed up east on Vest is what makes drivers impatient not to mention sometimes having to sit for 10-15 seconds or longer in trying to make a turn onto Vest off a major highway with no protection of a turn lane from a driver coming from behind..seldom is that the case at the 240/Odell intersection because the traffic both ways simply isn't as heavy.

Again there is no comparison in amount of vehicles, traffic congestion or degree of danger in the two intersections.

-- Posted by Hombre on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 5:52 PM

Response by Kathy Fairchild/Staff writer:

You're absolutely correct that the amount of traffic at Vest/65 differs sharply from the amount of traffic at Odell/240. What isn't different, as you point out, is the behavior of drivers. Most people are going faster - some of them MUCH faster - than the posted speed limit as they travel on 65. Drivers on Vest get impatient - sometimes VERY impatient - when they can't cross the intersection quickly and they make risky assumptions about the assured clear distance they need and how powerful their car is. It's no place for the timid.

I'm certainly no traffic expert, and certainly no expert on how to have a light installed, but now that I am very well acquainted with the intersection, I avoid it like the plague, and I'd suggest that others do the same. Inconvenient? Sure - but safer. There are other ways to get around town.

If you and others feel a light is the answer, get organized and get moving. Nothing gets done by complaining - action is what counts. If you don't get what you want the first time, try again and keep trying until you're successful.

It's not the garden spot in town so its every man/woman for themselves at that intersection..

Its without a doubt the most irresposnible thing I've ever seen.."stupid" is as kind a term I can come up with as to why a light is not there.

Why is there a light at Wal-Mart..folks can just use the college exit and the other entrance would be the service road thru Vest/65 WITH A LIGHT...killing two birds with one stone..but I guess that kind of thinking is just too advanced around here.

It's only a matter of time before tragedy strikes that intersection..and I wonder who will have the guts to step and be held accountable.

-- Posted by Hombre on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 5:36 PM

Or maybe people just need to use common sense when they're behind the wheel, that would probably help. Thousands spent on putting up a light and then someone runs it, then what, outlaw cars? Take responsibility for your actions, accidents happen.

-- Posted by sgates79 on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 3:56 PM

Yes there needs to be a light there and a few other places too. Like Odell and 240. Why can't a study be done for our protection! Why do we have to wait for action called for by the tax payers. The problem is to much back slapping and greasing the noisest wheels maybe we need to scream enough to be heard.

-- Posted by auntmeme3401 on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 3:52 PM

Response by Eric Crump/Editor:

Kathy Fairchild worked with Assistant Police Chief David Roscher last fall to gather statistics on the Odell Avenue/Highway 240 intersection accidents. After studying the numbers, here's her conclusion:

www.marshallnews.com/story/1494156.html

Kathy,

Do you know what it does take to get a stop light put an intersection? Clearly this is not the only intersection in town that needs one badly. Thanks for the info if you have it available.

-- Posted by Scarpetta on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 2:43 PM

Response by Kathy Fairchild/Staff writer:

I don't have any details on how that's done, but since it's a city street and a state highway, I'd say a phone call to either MoDOT or the city office would be a good start. You can reach city officials at 660-886-2225, and you can get phone numbers for MoDOT on their Web site at http://www.modot.mo.gov/safety/index.htm

I've been meaning to mention - I'm a big fan of Scarpetta, although I thought the most recent effort wasn't quite up to usual standards.

Courthouse renovation funds have nothing to do with whether or not a stoplight at this intersection would be funded.

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 1:36 PM

I think that intersection should be closed. Dead end the street on the east side and if someone wants to go to Bloomfield's they can use the outer road by Wal-Mart. If you remember correctly, the accidents WERE NOT as numerous prior to Wal-Mart being there.

-- Posted by Curiousintown on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 12:50 PM

It's too bad our local state senator won't use his influence with Transportation to get a stoplight here before someone gets killed. This is a very dangerous intersection, particularly when school gets out for the day.

-- Posted by cmasretire on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 12:33 PM

Looks like another T-bone accident, they wanna put turning lanes on 65 but that isnt the main problem, most of the problem there is the people waiting on vest to cross 65. Putting turn lanes will probly only make it worse, we need a stop light there and thats the only way to fix it. If they want to save money I say they take down the light at arrow and english and put stop signs for english at that intersection. Just my two cents...

-- Posted by PaperPro on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 11:22 AM

Wonder who will have to get killed there to put up a stop light.

-- Posted by Scarpetta on Tue, Aug 4, 2009, at 11:10 AM

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