Osage County Herald-Chronicle | Father asks for commissioners’ help in wake of accident

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Wayne White | Managing Editor

The father of a Vassar teen who was killed Aug. 11 in a two-car accident at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and state Highway 268, has asked the Osage County Commission for help to make the intersection safer.

James Sosebee, father of 16-year-old Kerensa Ward, met with commissioners Monday.

“I’m trying to get some help,” Sosebee said. “I don’t know who to talk to … to get something done about that intersection.”

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. Meade and his passenger, Turner E. Meade II, 14, Melvern, and a passenger in Ward’s vehicle, Danica C. Barone, 15, Lyndon, were injured in the accident.

Sosebee said he moved to the Vassar area in 1979, and has been aware the intersection was dangerous since then.

“It’s been a problem for so damn long,” Sosebee said. “I wonder why KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) has a problem with doing anything.”

Commissioners offered their agreement.

“Something desperately needs to be done,” said Osage County Commissioner Ken Kuykendall.

Kuykendall noted KDOT had initiated a study of the intersection following the accident. Kimberly Qualls, KDOT District 1 public affairs manager, said two weeks ago that she began receiving calls about the accident shortly after it happened, and those calls prompted KDOT to conduct the new study.

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.

Kuykendall said commissioners had discussed the number of deaths at the intersection as compared to the accident summary.

“We came up with a lot more deaths than that,” he said, “but they had been a lot longer back than that.”

Sosebee said he believed a slower speed limit in the area, reducing the height of a hill north of the intersection to allow better visibility, or a stoplight would make the area safer.

“I agree if you slowed it down, accidents would be a lot less,” said Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn.

But, she said, “According to [KDOT], you can’t put up a stoplight because it would back traffic up.” Traffic backed up too far from the intersection could create another safety hazard for approaching traffic, she said.

Dunn also agreed the hill caused a problem at the intersection.

“It’s so blind, if you come over the hill at 65 mph, there’s no way to stop in time,” she said.

Osage County Commissioner Carl Meyer said he believed trees surrounding a residence at the intersection create obstructed visibility.

“With that home sitting there, that is a blind corner,” Meyer said.

“For the sake of one life, cut those trees down,” Sosebee said.

Meyer said the intersection would be an appropriate place to spend federal stimulus funds.

Kuykendall advised Sosebee to “make noise” to Deb Miller, Kansas Secretary of Transportation, Clay Adams, KDOT district engineer, Gov. Mark Parkinson, state Rep. Willie Prescott, state Sen. Anthony Hensley, and local news media. At the urging of Sosebee, commissioners agreed to draft a letter and send it to the same people.

“We’ll back you up,” said Osage County Commissioner Mike Pruitt.

Sosebee thanked the commissioners for their help.

“I’m looking for answers to questions I don’t know how to ask,” he said.

In other business, the commission:

o signed an interlocal agreement, resolutions and assurances for funding a Rural Water District No. 6 water line project. The water district is to provide $105,000 for the project that will include loans and grants of $392,690 from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, and $490,000 from Kansas Department of Commerce (KDOC). Commissioners plan to sign paperwork next week for the KDOC funding.

o heard from county road supervisor Glen Tyson that the road and bridge department will be painting stripes on county roads in the next few weeks.

o met with county emergency management director Bryce Romine who requested alternate emergency management personnel be appointed in case of his absence. Commissioners appointed Dunn and sheriff’s dispatcher Brett Lewis as alternates.

o approved the purchase of a computer, at a cost of $1,050, for Osage County Court Clerk Charna Williams. Williams said a computer in her office “died” last week.

o approved a 25 cent per hour raise for Melinda Reece, an employee in the county clerk’s office. Osage County Clerk Rhonda Beets said it was discovered after the fact that Reece had not received a six-month increase.