Neighbors in Chardon are questioning the safety of an intersection where two recent high school graduates died after a violent car crash.
Jackson Condon and Dominic Ricci died after the Toyota Prius Condon was driving was struck by a large commercial truck on Route 44 as they were crossing Hosford Road. The State Highway Patrol said three witnesses told them the Prius never stopped at the stop sign before proceeding.
Ricci died on Monday and Condon died on Wednesday.
Geauga County Sheriff’s Office data showed deputies have responded to about 20 crashes at that intersection in the last 10 years. Neighbors told News 5 the 55 miles per hour speed limit is too high and it can be tough to see oncoming traffic.
“I’ve seen it way too many times. Like I said I’m scared to cross it. I refuse to cross the road now,” crash witness Tillie Weaver said.
“A lot of times cars will come close to hitting each other,” friend of the victims Dan Ciolek said, "I’ve almost seen a few accidents myself driving that way.”
But Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeremy Kindler said drivers simply need to pay attention.
“A stop sign is a stop sign. It’s been a stop sign for the past 100 years,” he said. (Story continues below map)
There are two stop signs on both sides of the intersection with Route 44. Investigators are still trying to figure out why that Prius never stopped.
“I’m not sure we’ll ever have an answer to that because unfortunately both of the people who were inside of that vehicle are now not with us anymore,” Kindler said.
It’s another horrifying reminder, Kindler added, for parents to talk to their teens about safe driving.
“That text message? It can wait. If you’re messing with your GPS, your navigational unit, your radio, all those things can wait,” he said.
Drivers concerned about a road or intersection can report it to the Highway Patrol or to the engineer for that county.
