17 people have died on this rural southwestern IL road in 15 years. What’s being done to fix it?
Mike Barfield Jr. was hit head-on by a car that crossed the center line in the winding two-lane highway he took to get to work before sunrise four years ago.
He had worried about the 30-mile stretch of Illinois 15 that runs through largely rural Washington County before the Jan. 18, 2018, collision.
The highway’s hazards include curves and tall corn stalks that can at times hide oncoming cars or wildlife. And with no shoulder on either side of the road, sometimes pedestrians, bicyclists or disabled vehicles become hazards, according to county residents like Barfield.
They say it’s common for people to drive 60 to 65 mph on the road, although the speed limit is 55 with several speed reductions for curves.
If drivers get distracted or drive too fast to turn into a curve, they could continue going straight and end up off the road in a ditch or in the lane with oncoming traffic, creating a dangerous situation for them and others.
In the past 15 years, at least 17 people have died in wrecks on Illinois 15 in Washington County, including the driver of the car that hit Barfield’s pickup truck.
Barfield survived the crash but still deals with pain and frustration from his injuries. He was 40 years old at the time of the accident. Now, a brain injury affects his memory, and damage to his lungs and foot prevents him from taking long walks and hiking like he used to love to do.
The most recent fatal accident on Illinois 15 happened this month in Nashville Township. Darlene Eggemann, 67, of Addieville, drove straight at a curve near Geisel Lane late Friday, July 8. Her car struck a ditch and overturned.
In the wake of deadly crashes, Barfield and other residents say they want officials to help make the road safer by addressing hazards like curves and speeding drivers.
State Rep. Charlie Meier, a Washington County native who represents a portion of the community, said this week he would talk with state agencies about what could be done.
At least 17 people killed in wrecks on Illinois 15
The Belleville News-Democrat used local and federal sources to identify 14 crashes that killed 17 people on Illinois 15.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website provided detailed information about fatal crashes from 2008 to 2020. The BND checked media coverage and news releases from the Washington County Coroner’s office and Illinois State Police District 13 for additional details, as well as information about fatal crashes since 2020.
Most of the fatal crashes on Illinois 15 have happened at curves. Six crashes involved drunken drivers. Speeding was a factor in three of the accidents. And some crashes included all of these factors.
Washington County Coroner Mark Styninger said the cause of the latest crash is still under investigation.
The BND created a map that details what happened in each fatal crash, including the contributing factors like alcohol and speeding. Readers can find those details by clicking on a marker in the interactive online map.
What Washington County residents think Illinois 15 needs
Illinois 15 is a necessity for Washington County residents. It provides access to the grocery store. Teenagers use it to get to school.
Barfield, of Nashville, still drives on Illinois 15 and said he takes each curve with caution.
“I’ve always been kind of a cautious driver,” Barfield said. “But a lot more since I had the wreck.”
Barfield thinks increasing police patrols on Illinois 15 could help slow drivers, and widening the road or adding shoulders could help make the curves safer.
Other residents think adding flashing lights to signs could better alert drivers to upcoming curves and intersections where people will be slowing down and pulling out.
Kristina Zimmerman recently moved to a Nashville Township neighborhood off of Illinois 15 that includes Hawk, Teal and Crow roads. Hawk and Teal intersect with the highway near the curve where the most recent fatal accident took place.
She said she worries about crashes at the neighborhood intersections and fears for her son to start driving in a few years. The curve and speeding cars can make it difficult to safely pull in and out of the neighborhood, which sees regular traffic with two home daycares there, according to Zimmerman.
“A lot of people don’t realize that this (neighborhood) is even out here,” she said. “… When you hit right past Country Mart, people are flying.”
Kim Kolus has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. She said she’s seen helicopters land nearby to take crash victims to trauma centers.
Like many Washington County residents, Kolus thinks straightening curves would reduce crashes but acknowledges that would take a big investment of time and money.
Legislator takes resident concerns to state agencies
Rep. Meier, a Republican from Okawville, said talk of straightening Illinois 15 dates back 40 or 50 years.
“I’m 63. There was talk when I was a kid about straightening it out, but when the interstate went in, all that talk stopped because the semis were on that road instead,” he said.
Meier said the state is “very behind on all road projects,” but some work is on the books for the metro-east. Illinois 15 in Washington County has not been discussed yet, according to Meier.
He said this week he will ask Illinois Department of Transportation representatives what could be done on Illinois 15.
“I would like to see if some of those curves could not be widened out a little bit,” Meier said. He noted that road projects often take years of planning and millions of dollars if they move beyond discussion.
The Illinois Department of Transportation said in a submitted statement to the BND that it constantly monitors state roads for possible improvements that could help save lives.
“Several factors are considered for the type of improvements to be implemented, including the types and frequency of crashes, crash patterns, weather conditions, time of day, roadway surface, sightlines and lighting conditions,” the department stated. “Conclusions and recommendations are driven and supported by data, engineering and observations in the field.”
In the short-term, Meier said he asked Illinois State Police about getting more troopers on Illinois 15, something he said he has requested for other roads where accidents happen.
Meier knows the curves of Illinois 15 well. He has lived in Washington County all his life and said he lost friends to crashes.
He implored drivers to stay focused on the road.
“Concentrate on driving,” Meier said. “Think about ‘What am I gonna find around that curve?’ Don’t be thinking about ‘I need to change my radio station or make a call.’”
This story was originally published July 26, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
