Driving blind?

Obstructed views at intersections throughout the county are a growing problem during the summer as corn rises out of the countryside.

Police insinuated that corn at the intersection of county roads 400 North and 700 East was a contributing factor in an accident causing severe injuries to a Portland woman on July 16.

"That's probably the biggest factor," said Sheriff Ray Newton about line-of-sight problems. "Late in the summer and early fall with those cornfields."

As corn grows it can make it tough to see around intersections but it's a problem without an easy remedy. Farmers are not allowed to farm in the road's right-of-way, which is usually 40 feet, and according to Jay County highway superintendent Ken Wellman, most don't.

"For the most part, I think they take as much as they can," he said. "But on the county roads, there's just not much of a right-of-way."

Highway employees keep their eyes out while in the rural areas, but Wellman said there have been very few instances where the county has had to remove crops from within the restricted area.

Although Newton named off a couple intersections that seem to have many accidents - 200 South and 200 West, Ind. 26 at the jog between 50 North and Division Road, and Boundary Pike and 200 South - Wellman cited 400 South and 200 West as one area that the county has specifically dealt with line-of-sight blockage due to crops.

The intersection is also the site of a slight curve on 400 South, creating some serious issues despite the farmers abiding by right-of-way restrictions.

"Every two years with the crop rotation, we have a problem with that intersection," Wellman said.

One farmer at the site has given the highway department permission to clear what they need to in order to improve visibility, while another landowner asks the county to pay for about the 30 bushels of corn it removes, totaling about $100.

"For the safety of people it's not that much," Wellman said of the cost to tear down those stalks. "It's something that's actually on the table to get a more permanent solution."

Wellman said that intersection is one he's working with Jay County Commissioners on. He said there have been discussions about trying to purchase more land around that site as a right-of-way to help push the crops further off the roadway.

In the end, however, municipalities can make efforts to improve visibility but most accidents can still be avoided by a vigilant driver.

For example, in Portland, while the intersection of Pleasant and Arch streets may pose some visibility issues, Portland police chief Bob Sours said the majority of intersection accidents in the city limits occur at the busy intersections of Meridian and Main and Meridian and Votaw, which are both controlled by stoplights.

"The main thing is, when you approach an intersection, you have to make sure the way is clear," he advised. "If you can't see, you have to pull out and edge out until you can see. You have to clear that intersection properly."

"People need to take some extra care or caution and may have to do that double look thing," Wellman said of driving in the country. "You've got to sort of look back a couple times when you're looking against the corn."[[In-content Ad]]