Osage County Herald-Chronicle | KDOT responds to citizen's concerns following accident

Wayne Whitet/The Herald-Chronicle

A KDOT employee excavates asphalt on a right-hand shoulder at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and state highways 31 and 268 Monday.

Wayne White | Managing Editor

Osage County residents concerned about a recent fatality accident at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and state highways 268 and 31 have notified the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) they want something changed. Those concerns have not gone unanswered, as KDOT has initiated a study of the intersection to determine if it can be made safer.

Kerensa Kaye Ward, 16, Vassar, was killed in a two-car accident at the intersection Aug. 11. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Ward was driving a 1992 Chevrolet westbound on K-268, and after stopping at the stop sign at U.S. 75, failed to yield to a northbound 1992 Ford pickup driven by William Evans Meade, 51, Melvern. Injured in the accident were Meade and his passenger, Turner E. Meade II, 14, Melvern, and a passenger in Ward’s vehicle, Danica C. Barone, 15, Lyndon.

According to Kimberly K. Qualls, KDOT’s District 1 public affairs manager, she began receiving calls about the accident shortly after it happened.

“I’ve been responding to individual correspondence based on the recent fatality,” Qualls said last week. “We’ve had a lot of inquiries in general, from a lot of the local community.”

Qualls said that due to the calls and concerns, KDOT plans to conduct an updated traffic study of the intersection. The study is expected to be completed in October.

KDOT does not automatically investigate safety concerns that result from fatality accidents, “but depending on where it has occurred and types of circumstances, and if we get a call or concerns expressed, we take a look at it,” Qualls said.

She noted that some of the correspondence she has received has been generated from a Web page on the social networking site, Facebook.

A group page on Facebook, titled “Put a stoplight at the Lyndon 2 mile,” created by Lyndon High School student Bryan Ward, has served as a petition of sorts, urging the state to make the intersection safer.

“How many more lives will it take to persuade the State to put a stoplight at the 2 mile or at least reduce the speed limit,” Bryan Ward wrote in the page’s description. As of Tuesday, 99 posts or signatures were on the page, which also had 778 members. Posts on the page range from remembrances of Kerensa Ward to suggestions of how to make the intersection safer. Stoplights, a four-way stop, a roundabout, an overpass and a reduced speed limit are suggested.

Qualls said one goal of the study would be to identify potential solutions to address safety concerns.

“We can recommend short-term options and what can be done long term, if needed,” Qualls said.

In 2008, KDOT completed a traffic study along U.S. 75 from the Lyndon city limits north to 229th Street. That study included a three-year accident history, traffic volume data and speed data at the intersection. Upon conclusion of the study, it was decided that the northbound and southbound shoulders on U.S. 75 should be converted to right turn lanes at the intersection. The turn lane construction was completed last year.

Qualls noted the intersection is now marked by two “stop ahead” warning signs and three sets of rumble strips to alert approaching traffic to the stop signs on highways 31 and 268. Drivers are also alerted with oversized 48-inch stop signs, red flashing beacons above the stop signs, and left-side stop signs. Also, a sign below each stop sign indicates that U.S. 75 traffic does not stop. Lighting at the intersection assists nighttime drivers.

Qualls said the amount of warnings at the intersection is not typical of the state’s highway intersections.

“All this has been added to this intersection,” she said. “This intersection has had a lot of stuff done to it.”

As part of the new traffic study, KDOT included last year’s summary of all law enforcement reports of accidents at the intersection from 1990 to 2008. The summary shows during that time period, there were 23 injury accidents, one fatal accident, and a total of 57 accidents. In addition to the fatal accident in 1990, 58 people have been injured in accidents at the intersection in 19 years, the summary shows.

Failure to yield to right-of-way was attributed as the cause of 20 accidents at the site and inattention caused seven accidents, the summary indicates. Other causes included improper turns and improper backing (two each), and one accident each caused by alcohol, too great of speed for conditions, following too closely, improper signal, distraction and icy roads.

Qualls said the new study would update the accident summary for the past 20 years, and include Kansas Highway Patrol report details of the recent fatality accident.

“What it will do,” Qualls said of the study, “it will show us any additional options for that intersection, basically what are they and what can we do.”

Qualls said that work is currently underway at the intersection to take out asphalted shoulders that some drivers use as a right-hand turn lane at the stop sign.

“It will have a narrow shoulder,” she said. “We’ll remove all that extra pavement, just (leave) not enough for right-hand traffic to try to pull in there to make a turn.”

As of Tuesday, Qualls could not yet confirm whether the current work is a response to the accident or part of an overlay project conducted earlier this summer. But she noted that drivers using the shoulder as a turn lane create a hazard by obstructing the sight of drivers in adjacent vehicles at the stop sign.

“People pulling over on shoulders to make right-hand turns is never encouraged,” Qualls said. “There are sight distance issues when you have cars beside each other, and shoulders are not designed for those right-hand turns.”

Regardless of the results of the newest traffic study, Qualls said changes at the intersection would likely not happen quickly.

“No projects are just born overnight,” she said, noting any project would require time for design, engineering, bidding and construction.

Despite the time required to appropriately respond to perceived safety issues, Qualls said she wants Osage County citizens to know KDOT staff shares their concerns.

“Our hearts go out to [Ward’s] family and friends and the community,” Qualls said. “Sadly, far too many people have had to deal with the loss of family members or friends due to traffic accidents.”