Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 22, 1994 TAG: 9404220191
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ADRIENNE PETTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Police cannot cite any specific factors contributing to the apparent increase.
"Looks like in Franklin County we have too many fatalities every year," said Capt. Bob Strickler of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. "One fatality is too many."
Perhaps the increase would be easier to explain if a common thread ran through the crashes, such as alcohol, hazardous road conditions or speeding. But only a few similarities stand out: Five out of the six accidents happened on narrow, winding back roads; and many of the victims weren't wearing safety belts.
Surprisingly, none of the accidents resulted from this winter's ice storms. All but one occurred in clear weather.
Otherwise, they run the gamut.
Police believe alcohol was a factor in two crashes, in which three people died. Drinking was a possibility in two others, but results have not come back from the medical examiner.
Two other accidents involved young drivers: one who was speeding, and one who ran a stop sign.
A three-car accident in January that left one person dead still puzzles Sgt. Hayward Raye of the State Police.
The driver hadn't been drinking and apparently was driving under the speed limit when the car veered into the incoming lane, sideswiped one car and hit another head-on.
"There's nothing you can really put your finger on," Raye said. "Inattentiveness really boils down to the causing factor in many of these cases."
Raye cautions drivers, especially teen-agers, to stay alert.
"With young people, they get a carload of people and turn the music up and have their mind on everything but driving," he said.
State Police and the Sheriff's Office are gearing up for summer, when more recreational activity puts more people on the road.
Strickler said the Sheriff's Office will continue selective enforcement to prevent people from driving under the influence.
Police also plan to patrol more heavily, Raye said, although they are not as well-staffed as they would like. Because of cutbacks, State Police fund only one trooper for Franklin County during each shift.
Franklin County officers also work closely with Brenda Altman, chairwoman of the Smith Mountain Lake region of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, to raise public awareness.
Keywords:
FATALITY
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.