MOUND RIDGE, Kan. (KWCH) - A mother in Moundridge is seeking change after her son was injured a crash that killed two other people It happened Thursday night just west of Moundridge at the intersection of Old Highway 81 and Arrowhead Road.
On Friday, 12 News spoke with the mother of the 19-year-old man injured in Thursday’s crash about what she says needs to happen to make the intersection safer.
Megan Nelson said she was at her daughter’s softball game on Thursday night when she got a call from her son, Kaleb.
He was panicked. I didn’t know what to expect," she said. "I mean, he was semi-coherent on the phone, but you could tell in his voice that something was just not right.
When Nelson arrived at the scene of Old Highway 81 and Arrowhead Road, she learned that the crash involving her son was fatal.
"Definitely a life-altering event," she said.
The McPherson County Sheriff’s Office said a Toyota Corolla driven by 63-year-old Danny Health, of Hutchinson, was stopped at the intersection. In the passenger seat was 30-year-old Mariah Lyddane, also of Hutchinson. The sheriff’s office said the crash happened when Heath pulled out in front of Kaleb’s pickup.
Lyddane died at the scene. Heath died Friday morning in the hospital.
Nelson said she was able to get to her son, who was in shock from what happened.
"Obviously, your heart is just breaking for the other people involved in the car, in the entire accident," Nelson said.
Nelson is advocating for change in hopes that further tragedy can be prevented.
“This intersection has been a problem,” she said of Old Highway 81 and Arrowhead Road.
<failed> online petition to bring more safety to and near the intersection.
"The speed limit goes from, I believe 55 to 45. We do have blinking lights on the stop signs, but I don’t think it’s enough," Nelson said.
She said it’s also a problem for surrounding communities.
"No more people should have to lose their lives because they are commuting between communities," Nelson said.
The petition elaborates on the concerns.
The intersection's design and its geographic positioning create poor visibility and unexpected hazards, increasing the risk of accidents like the one that will change our lives forever. Too many families have suffered needless loss because of insufficient infrastructure," the petition reads. "According to local traffic reports and resident testimonies, there have been numerous accidents and close calls at this very spot. It’s not just a crossing; it’s a risk that we all face every time we drive through this area. Statistics show that intersections account for a high number of traffic injuries and fatalities, and without intervention, this treacherous spot becomes a continued hazard.
She's advocating for her son and the families of the man and woman killed in Thursday night’s crash. Nelson directed a message to those families.
"You guys have been on my mind so much. Kaleb is struggling with that and this is going to affect him for the rest of his life," she said.
0 Komentar