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Fatal crash on Highway B curve draws attention after three fatal crashes there in five years
Summary
Committee members reviewed an April 18 single-vehicle fatality on Highway B and discussed short-term countermeasures including signage, chevrons, rumble strips and speed studies after the presenter noted a cluster of serious crashes on the curve.
At the Sawyer County Traffic Safety and Equity Committee meeting, staff called attention to a cluster of serious crashes on a curve east of Highway W on Highway B, including a single-vehicle fatality reported on April 18.
Dan Contos, a staff member who reviewed the crash narrative, said the April 18 collision involved a vehicle that veered off the road, rolled and ejected its driver. The report noted no alcohol or drugs were reported and listed distraction as “unknown”; seat-belt use was recorded inconsistently in the available paperwork. Contos said this was the third fatal crash on that curve in five years and that there was also an injury crash earlier the year.
Contos recommended the committee consider low-cost countermeasures and further review. He noted possible measures such as additional warning signage, chevrons or a night arrow, edge-line rumble strips, and a targeted speed study. “I think that that’s probably worthy of our attention,” Contos said, urging a site review and noting the absence of warning signs and some shoulder treatments at the location.
County staff and commissioners discussed reviewing the curve’s radius and sightlines, and the possibility of short-term signage or pavement-marking fixes while longer-term reconstruction or funding is pursued. One county commissioner described using a mapped box to capture the cluster of crashes for study and urged a proactive look at signage and low-cost countermeasures.
No formal vote or binding decision was recorded; the transcript shows the committee agreed to add the location to the items for further review and possible speed-study or signage actions by county highway staff.
Clarifying details from the meeting: the fatal crash date was April 18; it was described as a single-vehicle crash with the driver ejected; the report listed alcohol/drugs as not reported and distraction as unknown; the curve has produced three fatalities in five years and at least one other injury crash this year. County staff said the crash history and the absence of chevrons or edge-line rumble strips make the location a candidate for short-term countermeasures and further engineering review.
