Monday, January 31, 2000
How to make steep road safer?
Fatal crash focuses township on McClure
BY CINDI ANDREWS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
TURTLECREEK TWP. — Township trustees will discuss tonight what, if anything, to do about the steep hill where two teen-agers died in a November crash.
Warren County Engineer Neil Tunison will explain some of the options for a section of McClure Road, off Ohio 63 just west of Lebanon.
Jordan Walker, 16, and Troy Mullikin, 15, both Mason High School athletes, were killed there the day before Thanksgiving.
Jordan's Mustang crashed into a utility pole at an estimated 74 mph, possibly in an attempt to get his car airborne while driving over the crest of the hill. A third teen, Mason senior Kris Cathcart, 17, was injured.
Teen-agers say the practice — called “launching,” “ramping” or “hill-surfing” — is not unique to this community.
Warren County commissioners last week voted to ask the state Department of Transportation to study lowering the speed limit, now 55 mph.
Some residents say they'd also like to see the hill made less steep.
“If this is your first time driving down the road, you don't know what's on the other side,” said Scott Meece, a three-year resident of McClure Road and a volunteer firefighter.
Mr. Tunison said he'll be talking to trustees about what they might like to do with the road. It was built in the 1830s, and to make it conform to present-day design standards could be both too costly for the township and too invasive for the neighbors, he said.
“The other thing we found is that there's not a lot of traffic out there,” Mr. Tunison said.
On the other hand, he added, the township could be asking for trouble if it elects to make only some changes to the road.
“Considering the litigious nature of society now, you really have to consider designing it to meet standards,” he said.
IF YOU GO
• What: Turtlecreek Township trustees meeting.
• When: 7 tonight.
• Where: Township offices, 1433 Ohio 63.
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