Deadly Hill Gets New Warning Lights to Warn Drivers
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: January 18, 2013
It's notorious for its accidents.
"Everyone in the area knows what that hills like," said Darrell Fox, fire chief for the Ranger volunteer fire dept.
It's not just a hill, it's full of turns and at 65 mph everyone, including fire chief Darrell Fox knows it's a place for major accidents.
"I've been doing this job for 31 years and its getting worse every time we go out there," he said.
Last year alone they responded to more than 100 accidents.
The most dangerous were on Ranger Hill.
"It's horrible," he said.
There have been bright warning signs to alert drivers for years, however, now they'll have another chance to notice with new signal lights.
In fact, they'll now have six chances to see them.
One of the major causes for accidents on Ranger Hill is speed.
And with the speed limit on Interstate 20 set at 75 mph, the six new light posts have been strategically placed to warn drivers to slow down.
"It's not only dangerous for the people who travel there, but its dangerous for my personnel, you know we kind of take care of people down there and the traffic will not slow down," said Fox.
The question now is, will drivers even notice them?
Some haven't yet.
"The sun, I guess it was just that time of day but going up that hill, the sun was just blinding," said Dani Lee.
Lee and her husband drive through Ranger Hill during their route on I-20 every other week.
they may have yet to notice the new warning lights, but they sure have noticed distracted drivers.
"Lots of people on their phones for the most part if they're not using it it's still on their lap," said Chauncey Lee.
Which is one of the main concerns for emergency responders like Fox who's still not sure whether even these flashing lights are enough.
"That hill has been a nightmare for a lot of families," said Fox.
And it will continue to be a nightmare at least for Fox no matter how many warning signs.
"Everyone in the area knows what that hills like," said Darrell Fox, fire chief for the Ranger volunteer fire dept.
It's not just a hill, it's full of turns and at 65 mph everyone, including fire chief Darrell Fox knows it's a place for major accidents.
"I've been doing this job for 31 years and its getting worse every time we go out there," he said.
Last year alone they responded to more than 100 accidents.
The most dangerous were on Ranger Hill.
"It's horrible," he said.
There have been bright warning signs to alert drivers for years, however, now they'll have another chance to notice with new signal lights.
In fact, they'll now have six chances to see them.
One of the major causes for accidents on Ranger Hill is speed.
And with the speed limit on Interstate 20 set at 75 mph, the six new light posts have been strategically placed to warn drivers to slow down.
"It's not only dangerous for the people who travel there, but its dangerous for my personnel, you know we kind of take care of people down there and the traffic will not slow down," said Fox.
The question now is, will drivers even notice them?
Some haven't yet.
"The sun, I guess it was just that time of day but going up that hill, the sun was just blinding," said Dani Lee.
Lee and her husband drive through Ranger Hill during their route on I-20 every other week.
they may have yet to notice the new warning lights, but they sure have noticed distracted drivers.
"Lots of people on their phones for the most part if they're not using it it's still on their lap," said Chauncey Lee.
Which is one of the main concerns for emergency responders like Fox who's still not sure whether even these flashing lights are enough.
"That hill has been a nightmare for a lot of families," said Fox.
And it will continue to be a nightmare at least for Fox no matter how many warning signs.
