Deadly turn

Deadly turn
1/7/08
Cumberland Times-News, MD

The last sight more than a score of people had of this earth was that of the rock wall at the base of Backbone Mountain in Bloomington.

Their thoughts might have been those of absolute terror, considering that they were in runaway vehicles that were going just too fast to negotiate the 90-degree turn that greets traffic at the place where Route 135 finally flattens out.

More than 20 crosses have been painted on the rock face at the bottom of Backbone, commemorating the drivers who died there. A truck driver from Texas slammed into that wall little more than a year ago when he lost control of his rig, which was carrying two dozen 1,800-pound paper coils.

At the time of that accident, the State Highway Administration already had truck pull-offs and mandatory truck stops and an escape ramp and reduced truck speed limits to 10 mph and installed lighting along the nine-percent grade that stretches four miles from Swanton to Bloomington.

Most recently, the SHA has installed a runaway truck warning system that will detect when a truck is descending Backbone at too high a speed and warn its driver that his rig is in danger of going out of control. It will give the driver a chance to slow down and alert him to the presence of an escape ramp ahead. Improved signage will warn drivers unfamiliar with the road about what lies ahead of them.

We commend the state for continuing its efforts to prevent further carnage along what may be the most notorious and deadly piece of road in our area.
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http://www.times-news.com/opinion/local_story_007094051.html?keyword=topstory

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