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Accidents down on section of 421 in Wilkesboro
by Jule Hubbard
Traffic accidents on the stretch of U.S. 421 between the Brushy Mountain Road interchange and the Holiness Church Road intersection decreased in the first six months of 2010, reported Wilkesboro Police Chief Robert Bowlin.
Bowlin said there were 99 wrecks between Jan. 1 and July 1 of this year, compared to 119 in the first half of 2009.
He shared these and other statistics in a report on a program funded last year with an N.C. Governor's Highway Safety grant of $124,551 and $24,551 from the town.
With this funding, Officer Kristen Elledge was employed to focus on speeding, driving while impaired, reckless driving and other problems on U.S. 421 in Wilkesboro.
"I feel we will see more of a reduction (in traffic accidents) as the program continues," said Bowlin.
"Our goal is to cut down on the severity of damage and personal injury when the accident does occur by reducing speed along the 421 west corridor," he added.
"Although we are still new in the program and we continue to learn every day, I think the program is working by cutting down on the accidents and freeing our regular patrol officers to spend more time in our neighborhoods and at our businesses."
Bowlin said earlier that largely due to heavy traffic in the U.S. 421 West retail area, Wilkesboro has an unusually large number of traffic accidents for towns its size.
He said Elledge issued 481 citations and made 26 misdemeanor arrests and two felony arrests, including three arrests for drugs and three for DWI, in the first six months of this year. She had an average of 5.7 enforcement actions per shift.
The state grant and matching town funds paid for a new officer’s salary for three years, a police car and all other equipment.
Bowlin said the officer in the new position can be called on for other police work if needed, but otherwise is solely focused on U.S. 421 and isn't on one of the department's patrol teams.
Wilkesboro councilmen agreed to continue participation in the program during a meeting early this month.
The town must continue funding the position for one year after the initial three years. Bowlin said his budget could easily handle the town’s first year share of $12,662. |
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