Accidents happen too often

Editor:

It seems last week’s deadly head on collision on Hwy 60 near MM#102 is yet another wake-up call about the dangers along our highways.

This is personal for me too as my husband is one of the volunteer firemen from Magdalena who responded to this horrific accident. Believe me, these accidents happen all too often. The whole community is affected. There’s a grieving process in trying to make sense of it all. Then we ask ourselves: What can be done to prevent these tragedies?

Over the past several years the commercial truck (e.g. wind turbines) and passenger traffic through Magdalena has steadily increased.

Now that the VLA is undergoing a big expansion, which is already requiring more staff and trucks, who’s making sure the “powers at be” are held accountable for preserving our health, safety, peace and quiet.

There must (I hope) be a master plan somewhere that has considered the inevitable repercussions of such a large project. My questions are:

1. Which entities have participated in drawing up this master plan?

2. What is the plan to protect the health and safety of local citizens, contractors and VLA staff, etc.?

3. Have the residents and villages along Hwy 60 had input to this plan as yet?

4. Who or what department is coordinating the consideration of traffic, road signs, speed limits, emergency preparedness, etc.?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Nina Sig McCabe

Magdalena