Eighteen-wheeled tankard flips at West 14th Street roundabout
by Jerleen Justus

(Plain Press, October 2009) The West 14th Street roundabout’s southbound lane in Tremont was the scene of this eighteen-wheeled tankard lying across the sidewalk on August 31, 2009. Eyewitnesses said the driver escaped with only minor injuries and bruises. Police cars formed a blockade in front of the accident site, while other officers directed the traffic in and out of the circle.

“I saw this one coming," said James Mahon. The West 14th Street, Holmden Hill resident said he was in the parking lot adjacent to his home when he saw the truck come wheeling up the hill from Steelyard Drive, doing about 25-30mph as it entered the 15mph zone. He also stated that he saw the tires slide on the tarred pavement and the long tankard leaned as it went into the turn, then flipped over onto the sidewalk.

On-lookers and other nearby residents gathered for several hours on sidewalks and tree lawns and watched the event unfold. The Air Cushion Recovery Service and expert operators of three gigantic tow trucks managed to raise the loaded rig back upon its wheels. During the recovery operation, motorists continued to enter the roundabout exiting off North I-71 and I-176 and found theirselves driving into a ring of confusion.

Residents, living close to the West 14th Street roundabout, have long been asking for some type of traffic regulators because of the number of accidents and near misses they have witnessed. They believe the roundabout to be a dangerous traffic design. While most motorists traveling cautiously through the roundabout and practice safe driving rules of the road, the circle is confusing to many, often cutting off another driver, entering the wrong lane or just slamming into another vehicle as they enter, exit or complete the turn.

Donna Ogle, a long time resident who also sits on her front porch and witnesses the out of control situation in the roundabout says that, "this is enough to stop your heart. When the speed limit up the hill was twenty-five, it wasn't too bad but when they changed it to thirty-five, now they don't slow down for anything." Ogle further says that those living in clear view of the roundabout cannot ignore the many fender-benders, speeding cars or the huge semi trucks and tractor trailers that swing around the turns creating perilous conditions for other drivers.

Other residents living in the vicinity have contacted the Mayor's Office, the Department of Traffic Control, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Councilman Joe Cimperman and the Second District Police Department to no avail.

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