JACKSON, Mich — Jackson's West Avenue is a main thoroughfare through the city. It's also where you'll find the city's most dangerous intersection.
Andrew Avenue and North West Avenue by the US-127 interchange has been number one in auto accidents two out of the past three years. State police data shows there have been 90 crashes here from 2017 to 2019 with 17 injuries but no deaths.
Airport Road is a similar story. Its intersection with Boardman Road saw 54 crashes and 12 injuries in just 2017 and 2018.
According to the Michigan State Police, the volume of traffic in and of itself is a problem.
“A lot of businesses are in these areas," said Michigan State Police Jackson post 1st. Lt. Kevin Rod. "These are well traveled roadways, well traveled intersections that we’re seeing a larger volume of traffic...with the number of distractions that are in vehicles nowadays with the cell phones and so I’m probably sure that it is a factor."
Bob Wilson lives on West Avenue near Morrell Street. The intersection seems like nothing is out of the ordinary at first glance, but there have been 32 crashes over the past five years. Somehow it has not made the top 10 list in Jackson County.
"We’ve actually had two accidents here that have resulted in fatalities," said Wilson. "One right here in my neighbor’s yard and the other where a driver hit a school bus in the middle of the afternoon.”
The 2018 school bus accident resulted in the death of the driver of a car. It didn't stop there.
“Just recently like a week or so ago a snowplow hit two different vehicles because they ran the light and a snowplow was coming in at 5 o’clock in the morning and hit ‘em both," Wilson said. "We had a recent accident where the guy’s left the vehicle and took off running after they hit the guy who ended up in my neighbor's yard over there and broke the utility pole.”
The city is looking into what's causing the issues at West and Morrell. Wilson thinks there may be a solution.
"I think probably the best deterrent is to put up a video camera and some signs that this intersection is being monitored by video and there might be potential fines or whatever. That might get people to drive like they’re supposed to," Wilson said.
State police want to remind motorists to put down the phone and look up from whatever distractions are surrounding you, so you stay safe.
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