Serious Wreck at Intersection of 35 West & Rye Road Bypass
Published by Joe Burgess January 7th, 2008 in WRECKS.
Around 10 a.m. Monday morning, this late model Nissan Titan extended cab truck was traveling north of the country club as it approached the new intersection with the bypass.
The Titan appearantly failed to stop, as it crossed the highway, into oncoming traffic.
Westbound on Rye Road was a work truck pulling a “lowboy” trailer, loaded with cattle feed.
The Titan impacted the left rear area of the loaded trailer, knocking the sacks of feed off of the trailer, spilling many of them into the roadway. The force of the crash also caused the 5th-wheel of the trailer to come loose from it’s hitch.
The Titan came to a rest in a deep embankment on the northwest corner of the intersection.
Reports from the scene indicate that one of the two occupants of the Titan were ejected from the truck, and both were transported to Drew Memorial Hospital.
Tommy’s Wrecker towed the Titan.
Possibly Related:
How could the occupants have been ejected when all windows in the vehicle are still attached and the driver and passenger windows are rolled up???
Although I did not speak to the occupants, someone at the schene provided that information, and I did notice that the pasenger’s door had to be tied closed before it was towed.
thanks for your comment.
Joe Burgess
MonticelloLive.com
If you look at the photos you will notice that the passenger side window is broken out. That is because the passenger was thrown through the window.
Thankfully the occupants only suffered a couple of broken bones.
This wreck looked WAY worse in person than these photos show. It looked like they plumetted off a cliff. I don’t know if rumble strips would be a nuisance or if they would even help, but unfortunately I bet this won’t be the last wreck at this spot.
I am thankful they were not hurt any worse than some broken bones!
Shelley,
Great point.
Rumble strips, like the ones at Rye, would definitely help.
As I was look for the intersection, it still came up quickly, because it is up on a hill, and not marked very well.
I believe this is a state maintained highway, not a county maintence job.
If I can get a couple more comments in agreement, I’ll be happy to contact the State Highway Dept., or whoever is in charge of that type of decision.
Even putting up warning signs, I have heard, sometimes takes an act or congess (or legislature).
Just need for a few more folks to agree, so that I can show support for the idea.
Joe Burgess
MonticelloLive.com
I agree with the rumble strips on the cross traffic and better markings, I have nearly missed the turn or misjudged the location of the intersection several times myself. The pavement is new and black and hard to see at night; I knew it would only be a matter of time before this would happened, especially to someone who maybe hasn’t traveled the road since the change.
There are two sets of rumble strips on Hwy 35 plus extra stop signs to warn people that the intersection is approaching. The speed limit even drops drastically before you get to the strips. I do not see how people keep running this thing! Maybe they should take a driving course, and learn that you are supposed to PAY ATTENTION TO ROAD SIGNS! Now they have even installed a concrete area that gives you the option to go straight through, AFTER coming to a complete stop, or yield to turn onto the Hwy to the north.
It’s a horrible situation, but it has gotten better. We lost a teacher at our high school b/c of how the intersection was in the past.
I do not know about this particular wreck, but pretty much all the others have been because the driver on 35 was speeding and/or intoxicated. The really messed up thing is that the intoxicated speeders walk away with a scratch or two, while the innocent person(s) driving on Hwy 63 wind up dying. My sister-in-law lost a good friend when the last wreck occurred, and the lady’s family and friends lost a great person.
It is all too sad, and needless. People just need to PAY ATTENTION, read the multiple signs, stop dodging the rumble strips, and avoid manslaughter. It’s that simple.
My mother was the passenger in this accident, and she was thrown out. However, the driver was not speeding and at the time of the accident, and there were no warning signs stating that there was an approaching stop sign. They were not placed there until after the accident. My mother, Janice Ware, broke her wrist and the driver, Deena White, broke the large bone in the top of her leg. They were both residents of Hamburg and had not traveled this road since the construction.
I agree with your statements, Becky, there are a lot of people that consider themselves “from the area” but have probably not seen the abrupt changes. Being careful always helps, but these places seem to sneak up on a lot of us, whether we are cautious or not.
With more and more teen drivers having phones, ipods, and other distractions, it makes it all the more necessary to have “warnings” about stops when it’s feasible. Not in any way excusing being distracted, but I don’t know anyone that hasn’t been distracted at some point by their screaming child, or etc.
I’m sorry about your mother, but I was not saying the accident was her fault. I simply stated that a lot of the wrecks that happen WHERE I LIVE are caused by speeding and/or intoxication. So please do not take it as an attack on you or your mother. I pray that she recovers quickly.
I drive on those hwys just about every day b/c I live in Rye. The second set of reflective rumble strips are new. However, the speed limit sign has been there for a very long time. The black rumble strips have also been there for a very long time, and those are the ones that are actually very noticable when you drive over them. I honestly cannot see how in broad daylight the signs and rumble strips weren’t noticed. Yes, the concreted area with the yield sign is new. But there were “stop sign approaching” signs on the hwy right around the church area before this wreck. There are actually two sets of the “stop sign approaching” signs, two sets of rumble strips, and two very large stop signs, plus the new concrete addition. Maybe they should put up some signs with flashing lights.
If someone was coming from Rye Cut-off to cross the intersection, it would be more understandable if they accidentally ran the stop sign b/c there are not as many warning signs on that road.
I think what caused them to not see the stop sign was the fact that it was right on top of a hill. I went to see the wreck site and I almost didn’t see the stop sign myself. I didn’t mean to make it seem like I was mad at your statements, I just wanted to clarify a little. However, the cops must have decided that the upcoming stop sign wasn’t apparent, because they dropped the ticket for running the stop sign.
Also, when we arrived at the hospital, my mother was wrapped in a blue towel, and we were told that someone was sitting with her before the ambulance arrived. We’re not sure who it was, but if you are reading this, my mother asked me to say thank you to whoever that was.
I know the first time I came up on this intersection at night it was a bit disorienting (even though I was aware that the construction had taken place). The road was not yet opened to through traffic when we left town to go on vacation, but when we returned (at night) it was. I’m not a huge fan of rumble strips, but that is always a consideration. Even if people are going around them (as they often do at the intersection of 35 and 63), they[re obviously aware that they’re there in the first place and should be slowing down for the intersection. The yellow “stop ahead” signs - which are present - should be more than adequate, though. They also have the intersection signs on new 35 to alert motorists traveling on that road that the intersection is ahead.
Many localities will put flashing lights on the yellow diamond signs where there has been a re-configuration or where some other unusual or hazardous condition exists. These lights now have solar panels attached which eliminates the need and the cost of supplying electricity for the lights. Undoubtedly there would be some grant money available for something like this if cost is a factor.
Not sure what the last posted speed limit is as motorists approach the stop sign at this intersection, but perhaps it needs to be further reduced so folks are better prepared to stop when they get to the intersection.
Just for clarity, B/C from “resident from Rye”’s comments, it sounds like the accident was on the Rye end of 35. From the story it sounds like it was from where the new bypass meets the old highway coming from the country club on the Monticello end.
Some rumble strips at the end of the old portion of the highway (like it is on the Rye end of the highway) coming up on the intersection would probably be a real good idea.
TJ, you are right. The truck pulling the trailer was coming down the country club road. My mom and cousin were coming from Monticello. I was confused with “Resident from Rye’s” comment. I didn’t remember seeing a church anywhere nearby and I definitely didn’t remember any rumble strips. The rumble strips are a great idea, though
Thanks, Becky. I mean I really was not trying to attack your mother or the driver. I in no way wanted to start a huge argument.
TJ! Now I feel like an idiot. Why in the heck do they call it “Rye Road” when it’s not in Rye? I WAS thinking that the wreck occured at the Hwy 35/Hwy 63 intersection! So I immediatley thought the Rye area being discussed was the one in Cleveland county, where I reside.
Becky,
I feel like a complete jerk now, and I wasn’t even trying to be a jerk in the first place.
Sorry everyone! But I still stand strong in saying that people need to watch for the signs on Hwy 35 before getting to Hwy 63. The friend I said my sister-in-law lost due to gross neglegence was a lady from Monticello, by the way. I’m sure some of you knew her.
That’s alright, everyone gets confused once in a while.
Yeah, Resident of Rye, I wasn’t meaning to belittle you by any means!
Bottom line
1) Everyone watch where you’re going
2) Next time someone decides to throw in an intersection in the middle of the road, DON’T FORGET TO PUT UP SOME WARNING SIGNS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT!!!!
TJ, I didn’t think that at all. I’m just glad you cleared it up. Thank you. I completely agree with your bottom line. The new intersection (in Drew County) is horribly laid out. Someone is going to get seriously hurt, and I think rumble strips would help.
Becky’s mother & cousin are very lucky to have not been hurt more seriously. I hope they get some compensation for the neglegence by the Hwy Dept. or whomever was responsible for not having adequate warning signs.
I drove down Rye Rd. a few nights ago, and granted there is practically no warning what so ever…I think that rumble strips would be a great warning along with a sign stating stop sign ahead, and even still in the curve, there should be a “curve” sign if nothing more than those yellow arrow signs like the ones located on Hwy. 425 going to Pine Bluff…because of the way the road is made, one can’t even be sure there’s a curve until they are in it….