if this is government at its best who needs it.
arizona republic
sat, oct 23, 1999
No freeway barriers to save them
Cross-over crash kills 2. hurts 9 on parkway
By Richard Ruelas and Mary Jo Pitzi
The Arizona Republic
The lack of freeway barriers that contributed to four crossover wrecks on Loop 10 1 last summer was a factor in two more deaths Friday in a grisly head-on crash on the Squaw Peak Parkway.
The accident comes on the heels of Gov. Jane Hull's announcement last summer that $18 million in cable barriers would be installed on Valley freeways.
But the barriers may not all be in place until this time next year.
In Friday's accident, an out-ofcontrol car flew across the freeway and into an oncoming car, mirroring the summertime accidents that prompted Hull to order median barriers.
A man and a boy in a Honda died when tread from one of the car's tires flew off, sending the car hurtling across the Squaw Peak Parkway desert landscape median and into the path of an oncoming Nova.
The taut cables." meant to keep cars from crossing onto oncoming traffic are in place just a few paces south of the accident site. The state is rushing to put in more, but has not reached this spot.
The people in the Nova were critically injured. Nine people in five, other vehicles Were injured when drivers slammed their brakes in a chain reaction.
The crash occurred at I I a.m. on a stretch of the Squaw Peak whose median bristles with desert shrubs and small trees.
Hull ordered the installation of cable barriers after a July 28 crossover accident on the Squaw Peak severely injured Gila Bend Justice of the Peace Polly Getz
That wreck followed four other crossover wrecks on the Loop 101 during five weeks in June and July. The barriers should be in place by this time next year.
The Arizona Department of Transportation will seek bids in January for at least two contracts to add the barriers on 54 miles of freeway.' Francie Noyes, Hulls spokeswoman, said the work is going as fast as possible, given government rules on spending.
Names of the dead from Friday's accident weren't released because relatives hadn't been notified.
Sarah Dresser, 23, who was in the Nova, was listed in critical condition at one of the John C. Lincoln Hospitals. Jason Estelle 26, had critical injuries when, pulled from the Nova, but was in good condition Friday night.
"It all happened fast - very, very fast," said Estanislao, Hurtado, 43, Phoenix mechanic who got caught up in the wreck.
Hurtado's truck was clipped by the Honda after it caromed off the Nova and flew across all three lanes of northbound traffic.
"I started spinning ... two or three times," said Hurtado, who wasn't injured.
"I heard 'boom, boom, boom,' and I heard brakes squealing all over the place."
A Phoenix fire chief and a paramedic who were in the area quickly checked the car's occupants for signs of life, said Capt. Chris Letterer, a department spokesman. Neither found a pulse.
Tires commonly lose their tread under the Arizona heat, leaving the car to glide on rubber, said Jim Wolf, a technician at Discount Tire Co. at Metrocenter.
"If the tread comes off ... it will make that car pull to that direction," he said. "You have no directional control."
Wolf said motorists should maintain proper tire pressure and check for signs of wear or unusual bumps building on their wheels.
The accident closed the freeway for several hours, backing up northbound traffic to 32nd Street and backing up southbound traffic to Indian School Road.