By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MONROE TWP. - Accidents along a dangerous seven-mile stretch of Ohio 125 in south-central Clermont County could be significantly reduced with the addition of a turn lane, according to a study by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Construction is scheduled for spring 2005, ODOT spokesman Brian Cunningham said Thursday.

"We look at high-crash locations and try to find ways to help improve the areas," he said.

A turn lane along 125 between Ohio 132 and Ohio 222 would be a welcome and much needed addition, officials said.

In the past five years, collisions in the area have killed nine people, the most recent on Wednesday night.

William P. Purdon, 40, of Bethel was killed when the eastbound car he was riding in was hit by another vehicle as it attempted to turn west onto Ohio 125.

Three other people - Terry Selm, 43, and Stevy Selm, 18, both of Amelia, and William Beaty, 41, of Bethel - remained at University Hospital on Thursday. Terry Selm and Beaty were in fair condition, while Stevy Selm was in serious condition.Lt. Paul Hermes, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said Thursday that investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the crash and that no charges had been filed. Weather was not a factor, he said, adding that none of the victims wore seat belts.

The stretch of road has been scrutinized in the past and state police declared it a "target enforcement zone" several years ago.

On March 1, state police plan to once again monitor this area to determine the amount of motorists who travel the roadway.

Development has continued to spread east along Ohio 125, bringing with it more traffic, and more points of access along the roadway. The combination has proven hazardous, officials said, because there are no turn lanes, and at times motorists who wish to cross oncoming traffic have to stop in the left lane to make their turns - endangering themselves and those traveling behind them. Speed is an additional factor; the speed limit along this stretch is 55 mph.

Clermont County Commissioner Bob Proud said Thursday that the county and the township need to work with ODOT to help reduce crashes along Ohio 125.

Proud said developers might consider merging their access roads in order to decrease the amount of turn-offs.

"That can be part of the solution, too. It's not the entire solution, though. People have to be careful and very cognizant when they're driving in that area," Proud said.

He praised ODOT for the proposed new lane.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com