Dangerous intersection getting safety improvements
A dangerous intersection is getting safety improvements after a fatal crash Sunday night.
Rudolf Munoz, from Greeley, was killed in a three-car crash at Highway 24 and 31st Street.
The car he was a passenger in was turning left from the highway onto 31st Street when it was struck and sent spinning into another car at the intersection.
It’s not the first fatal crash in this area.
Colorado Department of Transportation Engineer Bob Wilson said he knows the area has a higher number of crashes, which is why they are working on safety improvements.
Cody Kingsworth was thankful to hear that, because he knows the dangers of the intersection all too well. He was in a serious crash there last April.
“We were turning left and got T-boned at 55 mph and it sent us flying into a pole,” Kingsworth said.
Wilson said the left turns are why the crash numbers are so high. So engineers decided earlier this year, they would extend the left turn lane on eastbound 24 turning on to 31st Street.
He also said they would be looking at making the turns on Highway 24 a protected turn, which means drivers would only be allowed to turn left during a green arrow.
Kingsworth said he thinks that would help solve some of the problems.
“Heading westbound on 24 and trying to turn left is really scary because it’s a blind turn and you can’t see who is coming until it’s too late,” he said.
Matthew Mays passes through the intersection frequently, and said he hopes the improvements will take the guesswork out of turning.
“I drive more defensively on this street than any other in the Springs,” he said. “The blind turn is dangerous and everyone thinks they can quickly try to beat the light.”
He almost just got into an accident there Friday night.
Which is no surprise, considering from 2010-2014, there were 69 people injured and one person was killed in a total of 88 different crashes.
“I just want the changes to be made before anyone else has to die,” Kingsworth said.
Wilson said the extended left-turn lane already has funding and will be completed in the next two years.
