Wentzville Patch Readers React to Hwy. N Fatality

Wentzville Patch readers reacted with grief and outrage at the death of a Wentzville man in a car crash on Highway N last week.

Chase Marler: When are they going to fix this road!?!?!? Highway N is a death trap...

Jackie Marler: My prayers are with his family. How many more tragedies must occur on this road before the city/county wake up and do something about it? This happens nearly every month. The largest school campus in Wentzville is on this road. So sad.

chrisfrzzr: Bobby was so sweet and caring it doesnt even feel real why did this have to happen to such a caring and loving person he would cry for ur pain and laugh at every joke he put so many smiles on peoples faces :( rip bobby we miss u so much

On the Wentzville Patch Facebook page, many expressed the same concerns:

Jackie Marler: We need to fix this road. It was never intended to support the thousands of people who now travel on it every day to work, school, and home. Soon, we'll have a major highway dumping even more traffic on Hwy N. My prayers are with this family, and the many others who have lost loved ones on Hwy N these past few years.

Some spoke out to encourage the use of seatbelts:

Kevin Genteman Sr.: While this is a tragedy and very sad for a young man to lose his life so soon, none the less he chose not to use the seat belt. I speak from a person whose life could have went in a different way should I have chosen not to use my seat belts at the age of 28. It is ones responsibility to protect himself the best way he can. Then when a tragedy like this happens, the remaining love ones can say...they did everything he or she could have. My prayers to this family. Seatbelts save lives!

And others encouraged the community to take action:

Angela Bowser Herren Many have asked what you can do to help with the Hwy N initiative and here is your opportunity. Please write a letter of support of the Hwy N, SOS-II Initiative to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) which is a six-member bipartisan board that governs the Missouri Department of Transportation. Public comment period to submit letters to the MHTC is until May 31st.

The following key items should be included when writing:
1. WHO you are
2. WHY this is needed - safety for all who travel Hwy N
3. WHAT you are requesting - see bullet points below:
a. Complete resurfacing of Hwy N
b. Adding shoulders
c. Bring lanes to standard size of 12ft (currently 9ft lanes)
d. Center Line Rumble Strip
e. Shoulder Rumble Strips
f. Addition of turn lanes for high traffic areas
4. WHEN/WHERE: – see below:
Requesting approval by MHTC for Hwy N to be included in the Fiscal Year 2014-2018 (FY14-18) State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for the two projects located in St. Charles County along Route N (approximately 11 miles total):
1. From Sommers Road to Route Z
2. From Route Z to Route T
Please keep letters positive including thanking the MHTC for their time and consideration.
Mail letters to:
Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission
P.O. Box 270
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102