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Another terrible accident

Franny avatar
Beach Fanatic
3,300 views
Around 5pm yesterday I saw one of the worst accidents at the 98 and 395 intersection. I don't know what happened it had already occurred as I rode by but one car was so damaged I don't know how anyone could have survived. The roof of the car was ripped off and I could not even make out the type of car. These traffic lights have done some good but there still appears to major problems at this intersection. To all, be very cautious.

Replies

21
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
#2
How horrible...and too close to home....:( :(

ALWAYS take care at these intersections! Look both ways even if the light is green!
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#3
I came by as the rescue and fire vehicles were leaving, and it was still a mess, with emergency lights flashing, traffic stopped, at least two cars crashed, one unrecognizeable. It is not just this intersection which is so dangerous. 283/98 is just as terrible.

The two memorial, "Drive Safely" signs posted on the side of the road at that intersection, which honor the two locals killed last year on their way to work, obviously were not read by someone in this wreck. How quickly we forget the lessons being taught -- some still very obvious if we choose to see them.


Cheering472 avatar
SoWal Insider
#4
This is so sad. Such a tragedy that can be avoided if everyone would slow down and be careful on the roads. Take care Sowallers.
Paige avatar
Beach Lover
#5
I had a near death experience last week while at the 98/395 intersection. I was at the light on 395 just starting to turn west onto 98 when I heard a LOUD horn blaring coming from the right. I turn and look. A Coca-Cola truck comes flying through the intersection probably 5 to 10 seconds after his light had turned red. The truck never even slowed. It would have killed my whole family if he had been a few seconds later.
Beach Fanatic
#6
1 RULE...


Drive by the TRAFFIC, not the lights.......... Hate to hear these stories. Clearing the intersection before you proceed will increase your chances of being almost "wiped out"....

Good job Paige....

"How quickly we forget the lessons being taught" AMEN SJ!!!!!!!!!!
Paula avatar
Beach Fanatic
#7
So sad and particularly scary for us because we were right near there around that time coming in from the airport so we must have just missed it by minutes... And I was still thinking of the accident from last time as I was driving.
Bobby J avatar
Beach Fanatic
#8
The traffic lights have helped greatly but people still have too look at what traffic is doing. There will always be wrecks at intersections. Does anyone have more info on the outcome of victims?
Uncle Timmy avatar
Beach Fanatic
#9
Awful. I almost got hit by a Mack Truck that came barreling thru the Sandestin light once. Those big trucks just really scare the crap out of me. Now, I always look before I cross, even at the green light.
picky
#10
It makes me sad and furious, too, to hear about accidents like this. My daughter and I had an experience on Wednesday that was just like Paige's, which is horribly unnerving, and only goes to show all states have problems with intersections.

Aren't there any traffic signs out there that say something to the effect that drivers are approaching a dangerous intersection and they should exercise caution? Something needs to be done because the traffic lights alone at 395/98 aren't doing it.
Beach Runner avatar
beats on hood
#11
I always look both ways before I cross an intersection even if I have a green light or someone else has a stop sign. There's one particular intersection in town where at least once a week I see someone run the stop sign. So I always come to virtually a complete stop there even though I have the right-of-way. I've saved my life countless times doing this just at this one intersection.

The 395/98 intersection *is* really scary. I thought the traffic light would solve the problem, but I guess when people are driving so fast on 98 that they can't stop when the light turns red, accidents will happen.:eek:
ShallowsNole avatar
Beach Fanatic
#12
It makes me sad and furious, too, to hear about accidents like this. My daughter and I had an experience on Wednesday that was just like Paige's, which is horribly unnerving, and only goes to show all states have problems with intersections.

Aren't there any traffic signs out there that say something to the effect that drivers are approaching a dangerous intersection and they should exercise caution? Something needs to be done because the traffic lights alone at 395/98 aren't doing it.

The warning signs are still there. DOT *wanted* to pull them up, but they are still there.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#13
Before the lights were installed, I was telling you guys that they would not prevent people from breaking the laws of the road and getting into accidents. Almost daily, I get into a turning battle at one of those two intersections. It seems that people don't know to yield to oncoming traffic before turning. I still want to see turn lights for the north and south traffic. However, the worse accidents will be from the speeders running the red lights. The speed limit is 45 mph on Hwy 98 at those two intersections, but people usually speed along at 60+ mph, without a care in the world as they chat away on their cell phone. Green light doesn't mean go. Green light means wait, look left, right, and left again, before proceeding, and remember to yield to oncoming traffic before turning. I also ride a motorcycle and a bicycle, so I am usually very aware of my surrounding on the road. Be careful out there. The Sharks and Hurricanes are nothing compared to other drivers.
picky
#14
The warning signs are still there. DOT *wanted* to pull them up, but they are still there.

That's even worse news, to know that not only are there lights but warning signs and still people are dying and being injured at that intersection. I'm going to start using other routes to approach 30-A because I don't want to see my loved ones or me joining these tragic statistics.
Cheering472 avatar
SoWal Insider
#15
I don't know the technical name for these things. They can put those cuts in the pavement that cause your car to vibrate as you go over them. A bit annoying, but if those were on the Hwy as you approached the intersection perhaps it would cause people to slow down. Just a thought.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#16
I don't know the technical name for these things. They can put those cuts in the pavement that cause your car to vibrate as you go over them. A bit annoying, but if those were on the Hwy as you approached the intersection perhaps it would cause people to slow down. Just a thought.
Good idea, and it leads me to my next comical thought, but I would seriously be for it. I wonder if we could get the DOT to install the tire-puncture thingies that pop up when the light turns red? :idontno: You know the thingies you see at the entrance in parking decks sometimes. Probably wouldn't fly, but a man can dream can't he?;-)
picky
#17
I wonder if delayed signal lights would work? We have several in Indianapolis. The one I know best is in front of a high school. The westbound lane moves forward and takes left turns while all other lanes wait. Then the eastbound lane gets its green light and it travels at the same time as the westbound. I don't know exactly why this is done, but I know it gets drivers used to the fact that there are times when only one lane might be moving on a green, as opposed to the customary two, and therefore you have to be extra prepared to stop. It causes you to slow down approaching the intersection even when you see cars moving in the lane that's parallel to yours from the opposite direction.
Cheering472 avatar
SoWal Insider
#18
Good idea, and it leads me to my next comical thought, but I would seriously be for it. I wonder if we could get the DOT to install the tire-puncture thingies that pop up when the light turns red? :idontno: You know the thingies you see at the entrance in parking decks sometimes. Probably wouldn't fly, but a man can dream can't he?;-)

THAT would slow people down for sure!
Kurt avatar
Admin
#19
Rumble Strips.

My simple SoWal rule which I forget sometimes:
A green light is permission to look both ways.

I saw the aftermath and it was chilling. I have narrowly avoided death on 98 more than once.
Diane4145 avatar
Beach Fanatic
#20
I had a near death experience last week while at the 98/395 intersection. I was at the light on 395 just starting to turn west onto 98 when I heard a LOUD horn blaring coming from the right. I turn and look. A Coca-Cola truck comes flying through the intersection probably 5 to 10 seconds after his light had turned red. The truck never even slowed. It would have killed my whole family if he had been a few seconds later.

I would be FURIOUS:bang: and tracking down the local Coca Cola Distributor! Granted it would be difficult, but knowing the time & location of truck, will help. Worse case scenerio, a serious memo goes out to all drivers! Idiots!

I always try to be alert, at everything going on around me, for this reason! I've also tried to instill that it my sons, too. Though they are good drivers, there are others out there, that drive horribly and take too many chances!:eek:
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#21
I always slow down and look both ways at any intersection, light or stop sign, a habit that has certainly saved my life and my son's many times, especially on 98/395.

More than once I have completely stopped at a green light so that the huge mack truck can barrel through the red light on 98. it always scares me, even though I'm at a complete stop, just to think of what would have happened if I had continued through the intersection... :eek:
Beach Fanatic
#22
Did anyone notice what state the cars involved in the accident were from?

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