I had been meaning to submit my annual warning to parents regarding the unsupervised, drive under the influence, 70, 80, 90 mph season that is approaching before another death occurs. Very sorry to say, I missed.
On April 19, another death due to speed and alcohol occurred on Dike Road in Woodland. This is a highly un- patrolled area where mainly in my observation kids, your kids, are driving way too fast on this road, day and night. I know because I watch. I am outside daily.
There is complete disregard for the bike rider, runner, horseback rider – as we attempt to enjoy this beautiful area – from your kids driving over the speed limit of 40 mph. We are on our own to protect ourselves, as are the kids on their own to party as much as they like.
In the 13 years I have lived in this area, there have been two cars that have ended up in my yard, three deaths related to motor vehicle accidents, and several drownings. Doesn't that seem like a lot? Recently there seems to be more needles found in known party areas.
The Dike Road is not only popular with the kids but there is more traffic from, farmers who have increased their production leading to multiple daily semi trucks to move produce, a daily manure truck coming from who knows where speeding down the road to dump the manure on the Columbia River side, the soon-to-be-improved boat launch development at Martins Bar, proposed Columbia River Carbonates $10 million barge facility, and most frightening – the new Woodland high school to open Fall 2015. No fear though, we got infrastructure to support all of our new traffic – road safety reflectors.
I digress, back to the kids who are the majority of the offenders, what to do about them? Any ideas, suggestions? I know us residents down here are wondering how long it will take for one of them to miss the turn at the T in the road and end up in the slough (that already happens quite often).
Currently, my only hope is in the plastic road safety reflector to keep your kid safe. As a parent I wouldn't put too much faith in that. Hope you come up with a solution, it’s the hardest thing in the world to lose a child.
Patricia Morgan
Woodland
