Improve Intersection At St. Rt. 2 - Co. Rd. 22

Village, township, county, and state officials have a moral obligation to improve safety at the intersection of St. Rt. 2 and Co. Rd. 22.

Six teenagers and a 20-year-old were severely injured in a Tuesday night, July 14, collision at the intersection. None were killed, but the potential for loss of life at that intersection is beyond imagination.

Information from the Ohio Department of Transportation shows between Jan. 1, 2004 and Dec. 31, 2008, there were 14 crashes there, almost 60% involving injury. Of those crashes, half involved failure of a driver to yield- a recurring theme in Fulton County. Of the 14 crashes, semi-tractor trailer rigs were involved in nine.

Of course, traffic engineers will shrug their shoulders and explain it's too diffi cult or too expensive or simply not necessary to upgrade the intersection.

It's obvious something needs to be done. How about some new technology blinking lights? Place some solarpowered blinking red lights on the stop signs.

If ODOT is strapped for cash (and when aren't they?), how about Archbold service clubs dipping into their treasuries to pay the bills? Church groups or private donors might make the contribution, too.

In March 2008, this newspaper's editorial page called for safety improvements at the intersection "before someone is killed," we said.

Nothing was done, and the July 14, 2009 wreck occurred.

Must someone die before we get on the ball?