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<DIV><FONT size=2>Idiocy of the IDT and resulting tragedies:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Below is a story from the <EM>Lewiston Morning Tribune </EM>of
a serious collision that happened at the intersection of US 95 and Lewis
Road (about 5 miles north of Moscow) on Sunday evening. This
intersection has been the scene of numerous injury and fatal collisions for a
long, long time. These collisions almost always involve someone crashing
into a vehicle turning either right or left onto Lewis road from US 95.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The more serious collisions occur when someone is struck
turning left onto Lewis Road. The collisions involving left turning
vehicles are serious because the southbound traffic proceeds down a fairly steep
highway grade. Semis, in particular, have a difficult time slowing enough
if they are not paying attention soon enough; in the winter when roads are snowy
or icy the problem is particularly egregious.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The IDT recently redesigned this intersection providing a
right turn lane and a continuation of that lane into a passing lane for the
northbound (uphill) traffic, but did not include the most needed element for
safety -- a left turn lane. This project was supposed to be completed last
fall, but problems have stopped its completion. For a while there was a
huge safety problem leaving paved/surfaces unmarked after construction was
halted; Tom Trail intervened with the IDT and as a result this problem was
partially fixed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The project is still incomplete. [Part of the retaining
wall recently constructed appears to be beginning to bulge, also.] There
is still time for a redesign to place a much needed left hand turn lane in
place.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I hope the previous IDT idiocy can be mitigated by a common
sense solution before more deaths and injuries occur.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>About two miles or so further north on US 95 there is a
similar left turn problem at Four Mile Road. Numerous collisions involving
left turning vehicles have occurred here also. There is no excuse for this
idiocy at this intersection as there is enough pavement already in place for a
left turn lane to be installed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>If these situations are not changed very soon, then perhaps we
need to start replacing the IDT personnel responsible for these kinds of
stupidly negligent actions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>[Note to IDT main office: please forward this email to
the Lewiston District Engineer, James F. Carpenter.]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Wayne A. Fox<BR>1009 Karen Lane<BR>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow,
ID 83843</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>208
882-7975</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<H2>Four people hurt in crash north of Moscow</H2><FONT size=2>
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<P>MOSCOW - Four people were injured in a four-car accident Sunday afternoon
north of here near the intersection of Lewis Road, according to an Idaho State
Police report. </P>
<P>The driver of one vehicle, 23-year-old Dominique K. Aldecoa, of Spokane, was
cited for inattentive careless driving, according to the report. </P>
<P>Those injured were Jared Check, of Kuna, and Trevor Burkholder, of Boise,
both passengers in Aldecoa's 2000 Hyundai Elantra; Lucas J. Dixon, 17, of
Potlatch, the driver of a 1999 Toyota 4-Runner, and Cody M. Brown, of Potlatch,
a passenger in Dixon's vehicle. </P>
<P>A Gritman Medical Center spokesperson said Check, Dixon and Brown were
treated for injuries and released. Burkholder remained in the hospital Sunday
night in stable condition, the spokesperson said. </P>
<P>Drivers of two other vehicles, Donald S. Hammar, 19, of Post Falls, and
Thomas M. Knoebber, 21, of Coeur d'Alene, were not injured, according to the
report. Hammar was driving a 2001 Ford Focus, while Knoebber was driving a 1999
Ford Explorer. All involved in the accident, except Burkholder, were wearing
seat belts, according to the report. </P>
<P>Three vehicles were nearing the intersection and about to stop for a minivan
that was <STRONG><FONT size=6>preparing to turn left onto Lewis
Road</FONT></STRONG>, the report said. "As the Ford Explorer, 4-Runner and Ford
Focus approached the intersection, the driver of the Ford Focus observed the
Hyundai approaching from behind them at a high rate of speed," the report aid.
</P>
<P>Hammar swerved onto the shoulder and into the guardrail before being
sideswiped in the driver's side by Aldecoa's Hyundai, according to the report.
The Hyundai then collided with the rear of the 4-Runner, pushing it into the
rear of the Explorer, according to the report. </P>
<P>The accident happened around 4 p.m. and traffic had to be diverted to one
lane around the scene. </P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>