Improvements Called For At Tractor Accident Corner

Alabama Mobile Residents say not all intersections are marked alike.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Fri, May 08, 2009 - 7:11 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, May 08, 2009 - 8:53 pm CST

Friday was a terrible last day of classes for a local high school senior.
Alabama State Troopers said 18 year old John Johnson of Fairhope apparently fell off a farm tractor and was run over by the vehicle.
He was reported in intensive care at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola suffering a head wound.
The accident happened at the corner of Baldwin County Roads 13 and 32.
Debbie Lee said she was driving past the intersection Friday morning when she came upon the accident involving Johnson and other high school students.
Lee said, "There was a kid, a big senior type kid just on his knees and his hands with his head down in the middle of the road."
Lee's son Brett is a freshman at Fairhope High School.
He said, "I didn't know him (Johnson) personally, but some of the kids knew him. He said that they were talking to him, just riding on the tractor, and someone fell off."
State troopers said Johnson was one of several teenagers riding the tractor north on County Road 13.
They said the seniors stopped at the intersection of County Road 32, but when the tractor started moving again, Johnson apparently fell off and the tractor's tires ran over him.
There are stop signs on County Road 13, but no stop signs on County Road 32.
Stacie Street and her family live at the corner.
Street said, "This stop (sign) right here is new, and people on this road don't realize people on County Road 32 don't have to stop."
H.V. Street of Fairhope said, "They need to put a sign like some of the other ones that (say) 'Cross Traffic Doesn't Stop.' "
There is such a sign further north on County Road 13.
For now, students at Fairhope are thinking of Johnson.
Brett Lee said, "Its horrible: the last day of senior high school."
No one else was reported hurt in the accident.

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Mom2AngelBaby Says:

Sat, May 09, 2009 at 9:20 am

I agree 100% ENG! This was a VERY dangerous and STUPID decision, which I understand kids don’t think of at the time. However, whats at the corner of the street has nothing to do with what took place. Hopefully the child gets well soon and there’s a LESSON LEARNED HERE. Maybe parents should lock the keys away so this will never happen again…Things could have definetly been worse!!!!

engtchr Says:

Sat, May 09, 2009 at 8:33 am

How is this the fault of road signs?? What about the fact that several teenagers were riding on one tractor? I don’t get how this is anyone’s fault but their own.