Car Lands In Drain Ditch Following Accident In Sunnyside
November 10, 2009 2 Comments
An automotive accident this afternoon in Sunnyside resulted in a car landing in a drain ditch, with its air bags deployed. The other vehicle involved in the crash was a Ford Ranger which had noticeable damage on its front-end.
Camry With Airbags Deployed
The accident occurred at the intersection of East Edison and Highway 241, between the Port of Sunnyside’s business park, and the Sunnyside Municipal Airport.
City of Sunnyside Police and Fire Departments were among those responding.
The intersection is the scene of numerous accidents. Last January, another car ended up in the same drain ditch, just about 100 feet east of this most recent accident. In the prior crash, two victims were put on a medivac to Harborview.
I spoke with one citizen at the scene of today’s accident, who is also a volunteer emergency responder. He expressed frustration over the large number of accidents that occur in this area. In addition, he mentioned the intersections of Factory and Sheller Roads as facing the same issues of a high accident count.
He suggests putting in a four-way stop, or taking some other kind of action to reduce the number of accidents in this stretch of highway. Despite it running between the airport and the Port’s business park, the speed limit is not reduced in this area.
Although the person I spoke with was not in favor of reducing the speed limit (which I think is warranted in this particular area), he was frustrated that other measures to reduce accidents have not already taken place.
On a positive note, in recent years, rumble strips have been put in on the secondary roads leading up to the intersection with the highway. In addition, larger, more visible, stop signs have been installed as well.
Despite these measures, serious accidents continue to occur. In my opinion, this could be alleviated by reducing overall traffic speeds in this area of the City.
About Jason R. Raines
Eagle Watch
jimsweb.net
Over the last 50 years three intersections from sheller to factory have had many accidents. We have seen several fatalities over the years. I have talked to the state highway department numerous times about the trouble. But to deft ears. But one thing the state did say was when my place is annexed to the city limits ( which it is ) that the city will get to set the speed limit on highway 241 within the city limits. I have talked to Jim Bridges on several occassions in the past but also on deft ears. Now to solve any problem, the speed limit must be brought down to a safer speed starting at the Sunnyside canal north of these intersections. AS vehicles roll down the hill at high rate of speeds, they hit alittle valley whereas they cannot be seen from sheller. And when harvest starts these semi’s from the basin really roll down this hill going south. Many times if you watch that they take both lanes going around the curve south of the store. There has been cars not only in my fields at that curve, but also in the Sulphurcreek spillway ! Then when I used to be out on a tractor working. I would constantly see people running the stop signs on edison. And I still see it. Then of Factory I do not know what the problem is. Naturally the problem on all three intersection is not being defensive drivers. BUT, Jim Bridges does have the authority to get this problem solved ! Unless the state has reversed its thoughts on the matter.
Another problem at the present is whereas the city is laying lines down wine country road and are detouring traffic to Edison going east. Abslotutely no forethought was put into this detour. Cars line up back to the veterinarian building to get onto Hwy 241. Which is already a bad intersection. A 4 way stop on highway 241 should have been set up. This is very bad engineering from my perspective !
Don,
That is a good point about how the growth of the city brings this area within city limits. Perhaps the speed limit can be adjusted on a local level now.
The detour is bringing more traffic down Edison, so maybe a temporary 4-way stop should be considered while the detour is being used.