News

May 22, 2009

PennDOT: I-81 accident was preventable

Aggressive driving to blame for crash which ran woman’s car off road, causing it to catch on fire.

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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HANOVER TWP. – An accident Thursday morning on Interstate 81 southbound could have easily been prevented, a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation official said, but aggressive driving caused a car to be run off the road, roll over and catch on fire.

“The project manager tells me aggressive driving is unbelievable down there,” said Karen Dussinger, the press officer for PennDOT’s District 4. “Today was the last straw.”

Dussinger said PennDOT has requested state police be stationed at the work area 24 hours a day, seven days a week because of the amount of traffic and aggressive driving.

“Speed-Minders placed at the work zone have recorded speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour,” Dussinger said. “The zone is signed at 45 miles per hour. That’s not a suggested speed. It’s enforceable.”

The accident occurred near exit 164, Nanticoke, in a work zone where the center of three lanes is closed, and the left and right lanes remain open.

Dussinger said a car attempted to “jockey” for position, cut off a car driven by a female driver, causing her to run off the road.

State Police at Wyoming said the woman’s car flipped over, rolled onto its roof and caught on fire. Police said the woman was not injured, and are continuing to look for the car that caused the accident.

“It’s just outrageous,” Dussinger said.

Dussinger said currently PennDOT has nine work zones on the interstate between Hazleton and Susquehanna County, which increases risks for workers and drivers.

“There is no excuse for the aggressive driving,” Dussinger said. “There are barrels there … that’s only plastic. That’s what’s standing between the workers and tragedy.”

Dussinger made a plea for motorists to slow down and be aware of what’s going on around them. She urges motorists to leave earlier to compensate for time stuck in traffic or to take an alternate route around work zones.

“(Motorists) can’t risk their lives, workers, other motorists and passengers in their own vehicles,” Dussinger said, urging travelers to listen to PennDOT or news radio, read the newspaper or watch the news to get the most timely and accurate roadway conditions. Dussinger also urges motorists to sign up for PennDOT’s free e-mail alerts, or to log on to the District 4 Web site to check out live camera and sensor feeds.

According to PennDOT, between exits 164 and 143 southbound, the right and left lanes will remain open while the center lane remains closed for 18.5 miles.

The roadway will continue this way through December 2010, as workers alternate their work, and continue on to phase two of the project next spring.

Phase one includes diamond grinding, Dussinger said, which returns the roadway to its smooth surface, between mile markers 163 and 152. Phase two also includes diamond grinding between mile markers 144 and 151.

Dussinger said some work is scheduled for night time because of the amount of traffic.

WORK INFORMATION

DANGEROUS DRIVERS

Visit www.neparoads.com and look for the blue "I-81 Grinding" button for access to cameras, traffic sensors and updates for more information on the project. You can also sign up for e-mail alerts by visiting the Web site and clicking on interstate/non-interstate advisories.

PennDOT offers this advice for dealing with aggressive drivers:

• Make every attempt to get out of their way.

• Avoid eye contact; ignore gestures and do not return them.

• Don’t challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold your own in your travel lane.

• Wear your seat belt.

• Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, license number, location, and if possible, the direction of travel.

• If you have a cell phone and can do it safely, call the police.

• If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash farther down the road, stop a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for the police to arrive, and report the driving behavior that you witnessed.

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