Bad day in WV

[Malaki86]

Wow - talk about a bad day to be driving either on I-68 or I-79 at Morgantown, WV today:

Wrecks 1 & 2: http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=v...&storyid=41912

Wreck 3 (fatality): http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=v...&storyid=41906

I just missed getting tied up in the first 2 wrecks. I came through there no more than 15 minutes before it happened. The first 2 wrecks happened within 1/4 mile of each other. The 3rd wreck is about 15 miles away via the interstate.

[bjs24]

Wow - talk about a bad day to be driving either on I-68 or I-79 at Morgantown, WV today:

Wrecks 1 & 2: http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=v...&storyid=41912

Wreck 3 (fatality): http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=v...&storyid=41906

I just missed getting tied up in the first 2 wrecks. I came through there no more than 15 minutes before it happened. The first 2 wrecks happened within 1/4 mile of each other. The 3rd wreck is about 15 miles away via the interstate.

I live close by in Morgantown WV and at this particular point on 68 trucks wreck alot. There have been several fatalities over the years ive lived here. I have to drive it when i come home and let me tell you this, alot of the accidents are caused by speed. On my way home yesterday coming down the mountain (6-7 % grade for several miles) i was in 9th with the jakes on full keeping it to 50-55 stab braking and trucks were passing me going at least 60-70. I think its more of the attitude of well it cant happen to me. Well it can ive seen it alot. it can happen to you. This is a very busy exit with alot of 4 wheeler traffic and at this point in time construction , people will and do die in most cases. SLOW down read the signs. Im new and dont wanna sound preachy but ive seen so many accidents here and 13 driver fatalities and several more 4 wheeler deaths( in the 24 years ive been). we can be safer out there it saves lives. BJS

[Malaki86]

I know exactly what you mean. I'm based in Fairmont and for the past couple of weeks I've been running shuttle trucks between Fairmont and Keyser. What makes it really bad now is that road work. Even though the merging traffic plainly has a Stop sign, you'd swear none of them have ever seen one. That's what caused the wreck on the bridge today - a 6 wheeler pulling a gooseneck trailer pulled out in front of a Mayflower T/T driver.

[Fancy_Maneuvers]

Well, Malaki, Mayflower was supposed to slow down for the six wheeler w/ gooseneck! Is it not mandated by law that we slow down for everyone on the interstate whether they have the right of way or not? By God, when will those truck drivers learn their place... and stay in it?!

I have developed my sarcasm through the years.

This sort of behavior really gets under my skin. Sometimes I feel like other motorists won't be happy unless they see us all in the ditch. That's how they drive! I try to watch out for them, but the reason is primarily selfish.. in watching out for them, I am protecting my own record. Isn't that selfish? :?:

Entrance ramps are the bain of my existence! I never expect for people to yield - even if there is a yield or WORSE a stop sign. I always expect the worse, and am pleasantly surprised if they do what they're supposed to do..
And then.. I-68 & I-79 = nothing but up-and-down mountains, and you know how most drivers get when they think someone is slowing them down... I'm always afraid that if I go slower - read: the speed limit - that one of these crazy people will run into my trailer, thereby ruining my good day...
I feel for the people involved... but -

What else can we do?..

[Malaki86]

How's this for a follow-up report:

Cheat Lake Construction and Crash Concerns
Posted Friday, August 1, 2008 ; 05:40 PM
Updated Friday, August 1, 2008 ; 06:49 PM

Watch Story Video
The Cheat Lake area of I-68 has been the scene of several fatal accidents since bridge construction started more than a month ago. People that live near the Cheat Lake Exit say something should be done to stop all the accidents.

Story by Macall Allen
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Macall Allen

CHEAT LAKE -- June 20th emergency crews loaded an elderly driver into an ambulance.

A tractor trailer and the man's small SUV collided at the Cheat Lake Exit.

Then on July 30th another crash happened in almost the same spot.

Two tractor trailers wrecked and four passengers of a BMW ended up in the hospital.

Drivers say the construction on the I-68 bridge makes Exit 10 a dangerous place.

"It's an awful situation," says Cheat Lake resident Paula Booth. "I know they have to do the bridge repair work, that's important, but we've come to think of it as a death trap and taking your life in your own hands," says Booth.

Residents say they try to avoid the highway altogether.

"I even try to go around it. I'll go the old iron bridge way to get away from it because it is scary," says Cheat Lake resident Ruth Stone.

Motorists are coming off a steep mountain and they are immediately forced to merge into one lane because of construction and right before the merge, cars entering the highway must make a complete stop and this becomes dangerous for both drivers coming down the hill and those getting on the interstate.

People who travel the road every day say something should be done to prevent accidents from happening.

"They need better signs. They need to slow the trucks down to 10 miles per hour. They should be in their lowest gear coming off that mountain," says local business owner Barry Frey.

The Division of Highways says it has put out extra signs and state troopers say crews have done what they can.

"It is set up as the safest way possible right now. Unfortunately, where the merging lane is it is in the curve of the interstate," says Cpl. R. E. Garrison.

He says drivers have to be responsible for their safety too and use caution in the area.

The Division of Highways says the construction should be finished in the next four to five weeks.

They say they hope to be finished in time for WVU's first home football game on August 30th.

Copyright 2008 West Virginia Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Hmmm - I come down that hill @ 50mph. When I get within 1 miles of the construction (one lane closed), I slow to 40-45mph. Why? Because I've had to lock up my brakes 3 times in 7 days (14 runs) when idiots coming from the entrance ramp (with a stop sign) just pull out in front of me.

[Mr. Ford95]

"They need better signs. They need to slow the trucks down to 10 miles per hour. They should be in their lowest gear coming off that mountain," says local business owner Barry Frey.

Ah yes, the ignorant have come out to play it looks like. It's always those big trucks fault. Slow'em down and let the cars continue to roll, instead of trucks vs cars, you have cars vs cars now. You still have not solved the issue of idiots pulling out in front of traffic. Also, slowing trucks down that much will lead to wrecks from cars coming down the hill much faster and running into the back of them.

[Fancy_Maneuvers]

I am not surprised by the business owner's comment. But he doesn't travel much obviously... of course there are places that implement a 10 MPH truck speed limit, and to four-wheelers that is *also* an annoyance. It's interesting because those areas (with the 10 MPH speed limit) usually have a multitude of warning signs, but it never fails that cars drive at a high rate of speed behind trucks doing the speed limit! Why do we have the honor of taking care of everyone on the road? Is it really because we get paid to drive?

[Windwalker]

How's this for a follow-up report:

Cheat Lake Construction and Crash Concerns
Posted Friday, August 1, 2008 ; 05:40 PM
Updated Friday, August 1, 2008 ; 06:49 PM

Watch Story Video
The Cheat Lake area of I-68 has been the scene of several fatal accidents since bridge construction started more than a month ago. People that live near the Cheat Lake Exit say something should be done to stop all the accidents.

Story by Macall Allen
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Macall Allen

CHEAT LAKE -- June 20th emergency crews loaded an elderly driver into an ambulance.

A tractor trailer and the man's small SUV collided at the Cheat Lake Exit.

Then on July 30th another crash happened in almost the same spot.

Two tractor trailers wrecked and four passengers of a BMW ended up in the hospital.

Drivers say the construction on the I-68 bridge makes Exit 10 a dangerous place.

"It's an awful situation," says Cheat Lake resident Paula Booth. "I know they have to do the bridge repair work, that's important, but we've come to think of it as a death trap and taking your life in your own hands," says Booth.

Residents say they try to avoid the highway altogether.

"I even try to go around it. I'll go the old iron bridge way to get away from it because it is scary," says Cheat Lake resident Ruth Stone.

Motorists are coming off a steep mountain and they are immediately forced to merge into one lane because of construction and right before the merge, cars entering the highway must make a complete stop and this becomes dangerous for both drivers coming down the hill and those getting on the interstate.

People who travel the road every day say something should be done to prevent accidents from happening.

"They need better signs. They need to slow the trucks down to 10 miles per hour. They should be in their lowest gear coming off that mountain," says local business owner Barry Frey.

The Division of Highways says it has put out extra signs and state troopers say crews have done what they can.

"It is set up as the safest way possible right now. Unfortunately, where the merging lane is it is in the curve of the interstate," says Cpl. R. E. Garrison.

He says drivers have to be responsible for their safety too and use caution in the area.

The Division of Highways says the construction should be finished in the next four to five weeks.

They say they hope to be finished in time for WVU's first home football game on August 30th.

Copyright 2008 West Virginia Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Hmmm - I come down that hill @ 50mph. When I get within 1 miles of the construction (one lane closed), I slow to 40-45mph. Why? Because I've had to lock up my brakes 3 times in 7 days (14 runs) when idiots coming from the entrance ramp (with a stop sign) just pull out in front of me.

But, in the article you quoted, they did not say one word about that, did they... Why not??? :?: :?: :?:

[Malaki86]

No - they didn't mention it. I did, however, send an email to the reporter describing what actually happens on that hill:

I just finished reading this story on the website and am appalled at this. The problem is *NOT* the trucks coming down the mountain. The problem *IS* the vehicles that don't stop at the stop sign at the end of the entrance ramp before merging onto I-68 west bound.

I drive truck for W.S. Thomas Transfer in Fairmont, WV. Between Friday, July 24th and Thursday, July 31st, I was running 2 loads per day between Keyser & Fairmont. On 3 seperate occasions, I had cars pull out in front of me at that entrance ramp, requiring me to lock up my brakes.

I witnessed the accident involving the Mayflower truck and the 6-wheel truck pulling the trailer of fiberglass tanks. The 6-wheeler plainly pulled out in front of the Mayflower driver who was traveling down the hill.

If people would actually obey the posted signs and obey the law by yielding the right-of-way, there would be no accidents at this interchange.

I just want to see what response (if any) I receive from the reporter.

[Windwalker]

I realize that laws vary from state to state, but if you're from WV, maybe you can tell me if it's the same there.

Most places I know, the traffic entering the hiway MUST yield to the traffic already on the hiway, whether there is a sign or not.

Is it the same way there? And, if it is, that would have been something you should have pointed out to the reporter. But, I would be interested in his/her answer either way.

[Malaki86]

Yup - same law in WV. I did point it out to the reporter in my e-mail:

If people would actually obey the posted signs and obey the law by yielding the right-of-way, there would be no accidents at this interchange.

[PA]

I was stuck in the weigh station for 2 hours because of this wreck.
Then when we could go again, it was a slow race through the construction.
Missed a delivery appt. in Fairmont by 1 hour and had to layover.

[Orangetxguy]

Wow - talk about a bad day to be driving either on I-68 or I-79 at Morgantown, WV today:

Wrecks 1 & 2: http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=v...&storyid=41912

Wreck 3 (fatality): http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=v...&storyid=41906

I just missed getting tied up in the first 2 wrecks. I came through there no more than 15 minutes before it happened. The first 2 wrecks happened within 1/4 mile of each other. The 3rd wreck is about 15 miles away via the interstate.

I live close by in Morgantown WV and at this particular point on 68 trucks wreck alot. There have been several fatalities over the years ive lived here. I have to drive it when i come home and let me tell you this, alot of the accidents are caused by speed. On my way home yesterday coming down the mountain (6-7 % grade for several miles) i was in 9th with the jakes on full keeping it to 50-55 stab braking and trucks were passing me going at least 60-70. I think its more of the attitude of well it cant happen to me. Well it can ive seen it alot. it can happen to you. This is a very busy exit with alot of 4 wheeler traffic and at this point in time construction , people will and do die in most cases. SLOW down read the signs. Im new and dont wanna sound preachy but ive seen so many accidents here and 13 driver fatalities and several more 4 wheeler deaths( in the 24 years ive been). we can be safer out there it saves lives. BJS

If I was you, I would have those Jakes checked out. I come down that grade empty at 50, in 12th, with the jakes on full and only occasional lite braking.

Loaded I come down the grade at 45 in 9th, with full jakes and again, only lite braking. Have had to stop fro 45 mph numerous times, right where the onramp merges in before the bridge. That was when the mainline was closed down to one lane, and merging traffic didn't want to yeild.

[Malaki86]

I received a response from the reporter:

I appreciate you taking the time to read my story. The State Police, DOH, and Cheat Lake residents all agree that the problem is the construction. Both the vehicles coming on the interstate and vehicles coming down the hill have to merge into one lane and vehicles entering the highway must stop and can't get up to speed with those vehicles coming down the hill. We are not blaming truck drivers. We can see that a combination of many things make the Exit 10 area very dangerous and we hope the DOH fixes the bridge as soon as possible so these problems can be eliminated. But until then, State Police say everyone including people pulling out should be cautious. Many locals are fired up about all the wrecks and we asked a few for their opinions. I understand that you see these type of problems on a first hand basis.
Thank you for your concern. Our goal is to try and alert drivers and officials to the danger.

Macall Allen
WBOY-TV Reporter
Office Phone: (304) 326-6801
Cell Phone: (304) 838-2561
mallen@wboy.com

[Mr. Ford95]

Well at least he responded, still would have been nice to have done research before printing that story and painting truck drivers in such a bad light. How about asking the one's being blamed.......... :shock:

[Malaki86]

Exactly. Setup a video camera that shows the entrance ramp and the interstate. Also setup a radar gun pointing at the vehicles coming down the mountain. Once in awhile I'll be passed by a gung-ho driver coming off the top, but for the most part, drivers stay pretty close to the speed limit on that hill.

[Fancy_Maneuvers]

Mr. Ford, you're asking too much :wink:
If I wanted to slant my story one way, I ask people who help make my story slant that way, not the ones who force it to slant the opposite way!

And this is what would happen if said reporter asked even ONE truck driver his/her opinion on the apparent and *obvious* cause of these wrecks. Or the local reporter would come off as some sort of traitor to the local populace..
How sad.
:shock:

[Mr. Ford95]

I know I'm asking too much but it's the thought that counts right? All media and newspapers are the same anymore. Each spews their own little BS while also spewing what everyone else is from the AP wire.

[Orangetxguy]

No - they didn't mention it. I did, however, send an email to the reporter describing what actually happens on that hill:

I just finished reading this story on the website and am appalled at this. The problem is *NOT* the trucks coming down the mountain. The problem *IS* the vehicles that don't stop at the stop sign at the end of the entrance ramp before merging onto I-68 west bound.

I drive truck for W.S. Thomas Transfer in Fairmont, WV. Between Friday, July 24th and Thursday, July 31st, I was running 2 loads per day between Keyser & Fairmont. On 3 seperate occasions, I had cars pull out in front of me at that entrance ramp, requiring me to lock up my brakes.

I witnessed the accident involving the Mayflower truck and the 6-wheel truck pulling the trailer of fiberglass tanks. The 6-wheeler plainly pulled out in front of the Mayflower driver who was traveling down the hill.

If people would actually obey the posted signs and obey the law by yielding the right-of-way, there would be no accidents at this interchange.

I just want to see what response (if any) I receive from the reporter.

:nervous: :nervous: :|

My Bad...made a smart alec comment...but didn't read down to where you posted a reply from the reporter...which I didn't expect you to get!!!