Two 13-month-old Children and Grandfather Struck While Walking on Weaver Road

[hoops5]

This story is so sad. I was at the intersection of 42 and Weaver/Hopeful Church at about 12:30 on Sunday. I remember the police cars veering through the traffic and we pulled over to let them pass. Then I went on my way. Later I read of the awful tragedy that occurred nearby. Just a Grandfather pulling his grandkids in a wagon to get pizza. Life is so precious. It can be taken away in an instance. Hug your kids a little tighter. Look around and slow down a little.

 

"There have been more than 200 crashes since 2009 on the Florence, Kentucky, road where a grandfather and his two 13-month-old grandchildren were killed Sunday.

An Enquirer review of state highway statistics found that there have been 208 accidents along the full length of Weaver Road since 2009, including 33 involving injuries.

The statistics include 112 crashes since 2011 along the seven-tenths-of-a mile stretch where Sunday's accident occurred. Yesterday's accident appears to be the first involving pedestrians during that time period.

"People walk on (Weaver Road) pretty often," said Florence Police Department Capt. Tom Grau. "It leads to the Empire business area, so I can tell you that a lot of people walk to and from those businesses and to work on that road."

Nearly 11,000 vehicles travel through that stretch known as State Route 842 every day, according to the last measurements taken in 2013. That is down from a peak of nearly 15,000 vehicles daily in 2002, with a widening of U.S. 42 just to the north absorbing some local traffic.

The crash

A grandfather and another adult were walking along Weaver Road around 12:25 p.m. Sunday. They were returning from lunch and pulling two wagons behind them when a Chevy Malibu veered off the road and struck the group, according to Florence police.

The wagons had three children in them.

Two of the children, both 13 months old, and the grandfather were pronounced dead at the scene."

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=2%20children%20and%20grandfather%20struck%20in%20florence&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB8QqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincinnati.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2015%2F03%2F15%2Fone-killed-in-crash-involving-pedestrian%2F24809527%2F&ei=ywoIVeqJH4eZNtC9gpAL&usg=AFQjCNG9Jl2CFSc1m6KITTXS9qH-3sBUJg&sig2=Y2el_6yUnDeIIjjGJGkGQw

[nees1212]

I read about this the other day. It's a sad story. However, I would never walk that road with kids. Depending on where the accident occurred, that 2 lane road has a speed limit of 45 to 55 mph with no sidewalks.

[hoops5]

I read about this the other day. It's a sad story. However, I would never walk that road with kids. Depending on where the accident occurred, that 2 lane road has a speed limit of 45 to 55 mph with no sidewalks.

I completely agree. Apparently the driver is cooperating fully. They took her phone to determine if she was texting. She swerved, and that road has no room whatsoever for that. I feel for her as her life is now changed forever as well.

 

Poor judgement by the grandfather to put his grandchildren in harms way.

[BigVMan23]

I saw this on the news. So very sad.

 

For someone unfamiliar with this road, what make it so dangerous? In that article seems like a LOT of wrecks occur there. Is it a poor road or poor drivers?

[lawildcat]

A picture from the news shows the road - no sidewalks, people speeding all the time.

 

 

[UKMustangFan]

Incredibly sad.

 

First thought to cross my mind was why in the world would you be pulling a wagon with kids in it on that road? Just dumb.

[plantmanky]

I saw this on the news. So very sad.

 

For someone unfamiliar with this road, what make it so dangerous? In that article seems like a LOT of wrecks occur there. Is it a poor road or poor drivers?

 

You have no sidewalks, so everyone walks on the road. There are several turn offs into apartments, condos/townhomes, businesses. I think there are only 3 traffic lights (maybe 4) on the whole stretch - 2 of those being at the ends of the road where they meet another main road. (42 and Dixie Hwy.)

[hoops5]

^ I know. Hard to fathom.

We have short stretch of road with no sidewalks that connects a couple subdivisions. My kids sometimes want to ride bikes or walk it, but it makes me so nervous so I have not allowed it.

[BigVMan23]

You have no sidewalks, so everyone walks on the road. There are several turn offs into apartments, condos/townhomes, businesses. I think there are only 3 traffic lights (maybe 4) on the whole stretch - 2 of those being at the ends of the road where they meet another main road. (42 and Dixie Hwy.)

 

^ I know. Hard to fathom.

We have short stretch of road with no sidewalks that connects a couple subdivisions. My kids sometimes want to ride bikes or walk it, but it makes me so nervous so I have not allowed it.

 

I can understand why this road and 1000's of roads would be hazardous to walk along, but from the article it appears auto/pedestrian accidents here are fairly rare, rather it's auto on auto. So what makes this road so "accident" prone? Lot's of blind curves/hills...blind exits/entrances...private driveways entering the road...no shoulders/narrow road?

[lawildcat]

Risky road? Crashes common where family died

 

According to state highway statistics, there have been 208 wrecks along the full length of Weaver Road between 2009 and the beginning of March, including 33 involving injuries.

 

That includes 112 wrecks since 2011 along the seven-tenths of a mile stretch where Sunday's crash occurred. That's an average of 2.2 wrecks a month. The deadly crash Sunday was the first involving pedestrians during that time, according to state data.

 

Nearly 11,000 vehicles travel through that stretch of what is also known as KY 842 every day, according to the last measurements taken in 2013. That is down from a peak of nearly 15,000 vehicles daily in 2002, with a widening of U.S. 42 just to the north absorbing some local traffic.

 

KY 842 starts further north as Hopeful Church Road and changes to Weaver Road at U.S. 42. The Hopeful Church Road section has had 429 crashes in just over five years. Together, the crashes on Weaver and Hopeful Church total 637 since 2009, making the route one of the most crash-heavy state highways in Northern Kentucky with a rate of 10.5 wrecks per month.

 

Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore said there is already a project approved by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at Weaver Road and U.S. 42, just north of the crash scene.

 

Moore said it's a good idea to discuss extending the project south. Even so, KYTC isn't set to accept bids on the contract for that intersection until 2016. The estimated cost of the extension is $2.5 million.

 

"And the county or the city would need to apply for extra funds for a safety project like this ... like with our guardrail situation, sometimes it's an issue of funding," said KYTC District 6 spokeswoman Nancy Wood.

[doomer]

What a tragedy. I don't think I would have walked on this road myself unless I absolutely had to because my experiences have shown me that people hardly slow down for anything or their idea is to slow from 65 to 60.

[nees1212]

I can understand why this road and 1000's of roads would be hazardous to walk along, but from the article it appears auto/pedestrian accidents here are fairly rare, rather it's auto on auto. So what makes this road so "accident" prone? Lot's of blind curves/hills...blind exits/entrances...private driveways entering the road...no shoulders/narrow road?

 

I have no clue. Depending on time of year, I can drive this stretch of road 3 times a week (to and from), and the only thing I can think of is speed. There are some industrial parks at the south end towards 25. There are subdivisions and apartment/condo complexes on the north end by 42. There are no sharp turns or real blind spots that I can think of. A majority of the stretch is 55mph, which is probably a little too high for a 2 lane road with semi's pulling out from the various industrial locations.

[HammerTime]

That breaks my heart, I feel horrible for all involved.

[plantmanky]

So City of Florence, why isnt there sidewalks on this road?

[Qryche11]

Awful tragedy but if they were not in the road when hit then the fault lies on the driver. She obviously was distracted doing something. You dont just veer off the road especially if you see people. She clearly had to be looking at something other than the windshield.

 

So sad, they showed a picture of the babies. Not fair.