Safety Improvements Planned At Turnpike Interchange

Wednesday, November 21st 2007, 10:50 am

By: News On 6

A dangerous curve on The Will Rogers Turnpike may be to blame for two deadly accidents in the last year. Now, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is looking at options to protect drivers. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says Tulsa businessman John Conine died after his vehicle crashed into a pond as he exited the turnpike at Highway 266 Tuesday afternoon.

The exit has a sharp curve, but troopers say they don't know yet why Conine went off the road. Two people died at this same location last year.

â€œI can tell you right now that our engineers, our consulting engineers, along with Oklahoma Department of Transportation, will go back and look at what we can do here to make this area safer for motorists,â€ said Oklahoma Turnpike Authorityâ€™s Jack Damrill.

The turnpike authority has already added pylons and flashing lights to warn drivers of the steep curve. They're now considering putting cable barriers or guardrails along the interchange.

Watch the video: Turnpike Changes Considered After Deadly Wrecks

Related stories:

7/5/2006 Couple Drowns In Pond After Car Accident

11/20/2007 SUV Crashes Into Pond, One Dead