DOT to review intersection where 5 died last week

After several complaints from local residents, and a letter from State Rep. Dawn Pettengill, the director of the Iowa Department of Transportation has ordered a safety study of the intersection of the Highway 150 curve and 55th Street where five young people died in a pickup-semi accident last Thursday.

Pettengill wrote to Iowa DOT Director Paul Trombino III the following request:

"Please accept this formal request for the Department of Transportation to review and implement additional safety measures at the intersection of 55th Street and State Highway 150 west of Urbana, Iowa.

"On April 9, 2015, five Benton County youth tragically lost their lives driving through this intersection. Our communities are devastated. I do not have a history of accidents at this location, but many times when driving through, I have thought there were not enough indicators to notify a driver they will be driving onto the highway. The IDOT review will not bring back these young lives, but with action, we may prevent any additional fatalities."

Trombino replied:

"Please accept this note as receipt of your letter regarding this terrible tragedy and request for the department to review this intersection. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved. I have asked Steve Gent, the Office of Traffic & Safety Director, and his team to review this crash and history at this intersection. I will follow up with you after this review."

Local petition

Residents of the Urbana area have begun circulating petitions which will ask the DOT to make changes to that intersection.

"We would like them to change it so they stop both ways, have to slow down or make other changes so we don't lose any more kids or anyone else there," said Ernie Jacobson, one of the organizers. After gathering the signatures, the organizers plan to present the petition to Pettengill to pass on to the DOT.

The O-Zone in Urbana is one of the places where citizens can sign the petition.

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AS April 13, 2015, 11:52 am I am a victim of this intersection...November 15, 1991 my father was killed along with two others across from where this accident took place. I am a close family friend to these children that were killed last week also. I\'ve driven through this intersection if not 100 to 1,000 of times. No matter how cautious or what circumstance there have still been numerous times where it was a close call. Especially when the corn is high and knowing the area..not to mention other people that don\'t know the area. All these years with numerous deaths/accidents/close calls...all that has been done is a street light that don\'t work half the time. Please consider all possibilities to prevent more lost and ruined lives. I encourage anyone else to please respond. 23 1/2 years later...Sincerely....Angela Scott...Daugher of James Merrill Scott

CW April 13, 2015, 12:26 pm My brother and two others in the same accident lost their livess at that intersection in 97 or 98. There had been at least two or three more that had lost their live there after words not counting this last tragedy. I know there has been several more that lost their life even before them at that intersection. It\'s about time for it to be reviewed. We don\'t need anymore deaths there. Thank You

BL April 13, 2015, 1:39 pm Thank you Representative Pettengill and Director Trombino for your quick response to this tragedy. I saw survey crews working already on Sunday at this location.

SB April 13, 2015, 3:13 pm Thank u 2 all those involved in this project..i knows several who have been killed there..i myself hate going that way..whenever i do i always sit at the stop sign at least 3-5 minutes if not longer..i get so scared every time..lets all try 2 get this changed..my soon 2 be husband and i hope 2 help in anyway we can..God be with everyone!!

EG April 13, 2015, 11:01 pm I drive this section of Hwy 150 at least 3 days per week twice a day. I always have cars pull out in front of me and I have to slow down so there is no accident. This intersection needs something.

CZ April 13, 2015, 11:21 pm Thank you Dawn!

TP April 14, 2015, 2:35 pm Until the state does something else, those of us leaving Urbana and going west towards Vinton, should go north (towards Independence) on that short piece of road just before the stop sign and then turn left at that stop sign and proceed towards Vinton. It would only take an extra minute and be less of a risk.

CTF April 14, 2015, 6:58 pm Yes, Thanks Dawn. It is a dangerous intersection. Hope IDOT can come to some conclusion

News : DOT to review intersection where 5 died last week

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