Another Chardon Windsor/608 Death, Still No Road Changes

BY NICK ROGERS

CHARDON - Only three and a quarter months since the last fatal crash at the intersection of Chardon Windsor Road and State Route 608, another death has occurred at the long-troubled intersection. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Geauga County Engineer’s Office (GCE), Chardon Fire Department, and Claridon Township Trustees have all promised enhanced safety measure implementation at the site but, to date, no changes have been made. The question is, will another life (or lives) be lost in the meantime?

At approximately 9:11am on Saturday, August 16, Chardon Fire Department responded to a call of a potentially fatal two vehicle collision at the intersection. 

Chief Justin Geiss of the Chardon Fire Department said, “While enroute, Burton and Hambden fire departments were called for mutual aid. Upon arrival, crews found two vehicles with heavy damage.” 

Geiss continued, “Two of the victims self-extricated and a third was still in the vehicle. Two patients were transported to (University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center [UHGMC]) and a third was pronounced dead at the scene.” 

Much like the crash in May, the driver on Chardon Windsor Road approaching the stop sign at the intersection apparently did not yield to cross traffic on State Route 608 (according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol [OSHP]).  

The driver was Donny Grigsby Sr., a 46-year-old Chardon resident. His 1996 Chevrolet S10 was struck by a northbound 2019 Ram 1500 driven by Thurman Bitting, a 69-year-old from Windsor. 

The OSHP said, “Bitting and his passenger were transported to (UHGMC) with nonlife-threatening injuries. Grigsby Sr. was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Chief Geiss echoed more of the same regret as he and the other agency representatives did last time, all of whom have been involved in the ongoing “study” of the intersection; regret that has, unfortunately, begun sounding more and more hollow with each passing accident.

“The health, safety and wellness of our residents and all who visit is and shall remain our top priority,” Geiss said. “Our condolences go out to all those involved in today’s tragic incident.”

Geiss continued, “Following the last fatal accident at this location, all representatives met and discussed options to make this intersection safer, and the planned change is making the intersection a four-way stop.”

Some residents have identified speeding – well-in-excess of the 55mph limit – as the root cause of the periodic crashes (perhaps lower the speed limit?).

One resident, identifying himself only as “Dave,” said that the four-way stop – planned for completion within the next six-to-eight weeks, will not be sufficient. He believes flashing lights are needed (like the ones at the intersection of Wilson Mills Road and Park Avenue in Chardon) to alert those driving down Sate Route 608 of the impending stop sign. He also suggested making the intersection into a roundabout.

Speaking to a neighbor, this author was informed that accidents routinely occur at the intersection; most of which are, luckily, not fatal and do not make the headlines. The neighbor suggested rumble strips be placed in the final few hundred yard of 608 approaching the intersection, forcing speeders to slow down. 

In the author’s humble opinion, all of the above should be employed (minus the roundabout, a procedure unfamiliar to most in the area that may add more confusion to the situation); flashing red lights being a top priority. Whether or not the involved agencies will heed the advice of locals is yet to be seen (and, based on review of Facebook comments under Chardon Fire Department’s May post, ample advice has been offered).

What remains unclear to the author is why the safety study must take so long, and why temporary measures could not be put in place in the meantime? Obviously, there are details that go into a study like this – hill gradients, blind spots, average speed of passing cars, etc. – but (with no offense meant toward these agencies) it isn’t rocket science. 

If the health and safety of residents on these roads truly is a top priority, and if resources are not scarce, then why in the world would action not immediately have been taken after it became abundantly clear that this was an unsafe intersection?

In the time since the previous fatality, dozens of roads in Chardon have been repaved; a job that took weeks. If plans are simply to make Chardon Windsor and 608 a four-way stop, the painting of lines and insertion of three additional stop signs could have been accomplished in a day. 

Perhaps the author is missing something, but it seems tragically bureaucratic for the process to drag out as long as it has; long enough for another local to become part of a gut wrenchingly large statistic.

After all the carnage and a months-long-study, it seems the chosen solution is one that could have been accomplished long ago (and one that may or may not even be sufficient to prevent more deaths).