Marietta woman killed in traffic accident | News, Sports, Jobs



MARIETTA — A Marietta woman was killed in a traffic accident Friday in Washington County, the Marietta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

Jean R. Pekach, 92, of Marietta, was killed in a collision with a 2010 Mazda 3 driven by Jimella J. Bigley, 51, of Ravenswood on Ohio 7 near milepost 27 in Marietta Township, the patrol said.

The investigation found Pekach, driving a 2001 Honda Accord, was attempting to pull out of a private drive when the collision occurred. Bigley was traveling north on Route 7, the patrol said.

Pekach was taken to Marietta Memorial Hospital by the Reno Volunteer Fire Department EMS where she was pronounced dead, the patrol said. Bigley sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries and also was taken to Marietta Memorial by the Fearing Township Volunteer Fire Department EMS, the patrol said.

The accident happened around 12:30 p.m. Friday, according to the patrol.

Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor in the crash and both drivers were wearing a seatbelt, the patrol said. The accident remains under investigation, the patrol said.

Responding agencies include the patrol, Fearing and Reno fire departments and Westfall Towing.



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Traffic overloads Springdale as town seeks remedies – St George News


Springdale is creating a transportation plan to to help reduce the number of private vehicles on the road, Springdale, Utah | Photo provided by St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Traffic is clogging up Springdale roads, city officials say,  and the town is seeking ways to reduce it. The town is developing the Downtown Circulation and Active Transportation plan. Springdale recently surveyed residents and is compiling the results. Springdale also conducted a transportation study by Fehr & Peers, a civil engineering firm.

Long lines of people await the shuttles inside Zion National Park, Utah, June 3, 2021 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

“If we could reduce the number of private vehicles by getting more people onto shuttles or bicycles, it would be a win for the residents,” Barbara Bruno, mayor of Springdale, said. “My biggest transportation challenge is getting through town on our only thoroughfare when there is so much visitor traffic.”

She said the speed limit varies from 40  to 30 miles per hour approaching Zion National Park, but traffic rarely moves at that rate.

“More often, the line of traffic is moving at 15 to 20 mph and coming to a complete standstill,” Bruno said.

The mayor said the situation is getting so severe that residents living near a shuttle stop often leave their vehicles at home and they ride shuttles, adding that Springdale is working to improve mobility and safety for walking, bicycling, taking the shuttle, and driving.

Bruno asks those visiting for the day to use one of the city parking lots to help ease traffic. There is public parking on Lion Boulevard for all-day visits, but she said those spots fill up fast. There is paid roadside parking on SR-9.

Springdale seeks to reduce congestion through the Downtown Circulation and Active Transportation Plan with input from its residents and an engineering firm, Springdale, Utah, unspecified date | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

“Washington County owns property outside of Rockville. They are ready and willing to develop a parking lot there,” Bruno said. “Visitors could board a shuttle or get on a bike there and travel through Springdale without their vehicle.”

Tourists that stay in the town’s hotels and transient lodging units can also contribute to the solution. Bruno said they could park their vehicle at their lodging and walk, bike, or ride a shuttle to get around town and into Zion National Park.

“I believe this is how they will have their best experience here,” Bruno said.

The Transportation Plan will address the traffic and parking congestion impacts of increasing visitation to Zion and growing development in Springdale, Tom Dansie, Director of Community Development said.

“As more people come to Springdale to visit the Park, shop, and eat, they bring more vehicle congestion to the town,” Dansie said. “The town has encouraged more people to get around using bikes, and now we are seeing a huge increase in the number of bikes, mostly ebikes, on the street.”

Although more people are moving around without causing vehicle traffic and parking congestion, it still brings issues and impacts to Springdale.

“The Transportation Plan will analyze all these issues and propose short, medium, and long-term solutions to help improve traffic flow and transportation efficiency,” Dansie said.

According to the town’s recent email to residents, the challenges are for all modes of transportation. The Springdale Circulation and Active Transportation Plan will develop strategies to help mitigate the negative impacts of increased traffic in the community, the email stated.

The Springdale Circulation and Active Transportation Plan outline the top five conflict zones as follows:

  1. Zion Canyon Lodge
  2. Winderland Lane
  3. Canyon Springs Rd & Sage Lane
  4. Desert Pearl Restaurant
  5. Hampton Inn/Visitor Center

Solutions proposed by this plan the town’s council will consider in the future include ten options, including crosswalk enhancements that would increase the visibility of pedestrian crossings and encourage drivers to slow down. The recommendation is to install flashing beacons to encourage motorists to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists crossing. These flashing beacons also reduce the threat of rear-end crashes for motorists. They communicate with approaching motorists that a pedestrian is attempting to cross. There are eight crosswalks currently along the SR-9 study corridor in Springdale.

Conflict striping is another proposed plan which alerts drivers to be aware of people on bicycles and increases the visibility of conflict points between turning vehicles and people on bikes. The plan advises using green paint to highlight high-priority conflict zones between people on bicycles and turning cars at driveways, shuttle stops, and other conflict points.

Then a mobility hub/satellite parking area that provides visitors with multiple ways to reach Springdale and other destinations. The plan recommends that the county-owned area in Rockville be the hub. By diverting visitors before they enter Springdale, traffic and congestion in town can be reduced, the study found.

The plan states another benefit of the parking area is for large freight vehicles to offload goods. Then they transfer the items to smaller delivery vehicles, reducing the impact of freight vehicles in town.

For more information on the plan, contact the town’s offices at [email protected]

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.





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Henry Brown Blvd traffic to be impacted by construction


BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Improvements on Henry Brown Boulevard will begin on Tuesday.

Motorists should expect lane and shoulder closures along Henry Brown Blvd and Montague Plantation Road from May 31 through June 5.

According to Berkeley County Government, the primary construction will be between Nevers School of Excellence and Willow Tree Drive.

A detour will be available at the intersection of Henry Brown Blvd and Firethorn Drive that will redirect vehicles through the traffic circle.

The road work is the second phase of the Henry Brown Blvd. Improvement Project.



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I-40 reopens after crash near Benson, traffic delays remain :: WRAL.com


— Interstate 40 near North Carolina Highway 210 has reopened after a crash closed the interstate for nearly two hours on Friday afternoon.

The crash happened just after 2 p.m. Friday on I-40 West, according to the North Carolina State Patrol.

Crews reopened the interstate around 3:45 p.m. Friday. However, delays are still expected in the area.

WRAL News is working to find out the extent of the injuries for the people involved in the crash. A WRAL News crew is heading to the scene.

Detour information to navigate around the I-40 crash near Benson

Motorists traveling on I-40 West: Take Exit 328-A to I-95 South, follow I-95 South to Exit 79 and take Exit 79 to NC 50 North. Turn right onto NC 50 North, follow NC 50 North to NC 210 East, turn right onto NC 210 East, follow NC 210 East to the on-ramp for I-40 and then take the on-ramp to re-access I-40 at Exit 319.

Motorists traveling on I-40 East: Take Exit 319 to NC 210 West, turn right onto NC 210 West, and follow NC 210 West to NC 50 South. Turn left onto NC 50 South, follow NC 50 South to the on-ramp for I-95 North. Take the on-ramp to I-95 North, follow I-95 North to Exit 81, and take Exit 81 to re-access I-40 at Exit 328.



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Here’s When Chicago Traffic Is Expected to Be the Worst – NBC Chicago


Traveling this Memorial Day weekend? According to AAA, you’re one of 39.2 million people hitting the road for it this year.

And, thanks to inflation, gas, hotels and flights are all expected to be significantly more expensive.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for gas, what traffic and weather is predicted to be like, and the best and worst times to hit the road for one of the city’s busiest travel weekends.

Gas Prices

For the first time, gas prices across the country are at or above $4 per gallon in all 50 states, AAA says.

As of Friday, the national average for a regular gallon gas cost $4.59. In Illinois, the average is even higher than that — at $4.96

In Cook County, the average is above $5 — at $5.27.

AAA recommends travelers can save money by searching for best gas prices along their routes, as gas can often be 40-60 cents cheaper away from a highway.

Traveling by Car

According to transportation data from INRIX, Chicago contains one of the worst corridors in the country for Memorial Day road travel: I-290 E, IL-110 to Racine Ave.

And with a rainy and foggy start to the day Friday, your travel time could increase depending on what time you leave.

If are planning to hit the road this weekend, here are the best and worst times to do so:

May 27

  • Worst time: 12-7 p.m.
  • Best time: Before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m.

May 28

  • Worst time: 1-6 p.m.
  • Best time: Before 10 a.m.

May 29

  • Worst time: 1-4 p.m.
  • Best time: Before 10 a.m.

May 30

  • Worst time: 1-4 p.m.
  • Best time: Before 11 a.m.

Traveling by Plane

According to the Chicago Department of Aviation, more than 1.4 million travelers to the O’Hare and Midway International Airports are expected between May 26 May 31.

For O’Hare, that’s a 47.4% increase over the same period last year.

There are currently no mask mandates at either airport, and most airlines have dropped their mask requirements as well.

If you’re traveling through O’Hare, be aware that construction is taking place in Terminal 5 and along the curbsides of Terminals 1, 2 and 4.

According to AAA, the average lowest airfare is 6% more than last year’s average lowest fare, and Saturday is the most expensive day to fly.



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Head-on collision on Highway 154 backs up traffic


SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol office in Goleta confirmed that tow trucks are on the way to help clear a crash along Hwy 154 involving two vehicles, a Chevy truck and a Honda.

At least one person suffered minor injuries.

The accident was reported just before 1:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon in an area with noticeable power lines above.

Both lanes along The Pass are blocked and traffic is backed up in both directions.

The News Channel 3-12 team will update this story as more information comes in.





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Travel tips for Memorial Day weekend: What to expect from traffic to gas prices and safety advice


Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for travel, whether it be an early summer vacation or simply a chance to visit with family.

Before you join the many who are planning on traveling this weekend, here’s a rundown of some of the things you can expect on the road, or in the air, this year.

In short: it will be more crowded and more expensive. So it might help to have some plans in place!

Higher numbers of travelers

Pent-up demand for travel during the COVID-19 pandemic means that people are definitely going to be out in force this year. The number of travelers will be high, particularly in comparison to the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, but also in comparison to pre-pandemic trends.

“For this year, AAA is predicting about a 39.2 million people to travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend,” said Doni Spiegel, public relations manager for AAA Central Penn. “That is up 8.3 percent over last year, and almost in line with pre-pandemic numbers.”

According to a press release from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, an estimated 2.2 million drivers will be using the Turnpike over the Memorial Day weekend – an increase of nearly 300,000 from last year. It’s also an increase of three percent compared to 2019′s pre-pandemic numbers.

And those increases aren’t just found on the roads. Flying is also seeing a boom, with estimates close to, or above, pre-pandemic numbers.

“Air travel volume, which began to rally last Thanksgiving, will hit levels just shy of 2019, with 3 million people expected to take to the skies this Memorial Day weekend,” Spiegel said. “And is it due to surpass 2019 levels, with 7.7 percent of travelers choosing air travel as their preferred mode, when in 2019 it was 7.5 percent of people that flew.”

There are 107 departing flights scheduled from Harrisburg International Airport this weekend, according to HIA spokesperson Scott Miller. That’s up from last year’s 94 flights over the same time.

“The other piece of this puzzle is, how full will these airplanes be?” Miller said. “So far this year, we have averaged 88 percent full. Last year in May, it was 80 percent or 81 [percent].”

Miller said that the airport expects 7,900 departing passengers to pass through HIA this year, a 30 percent increase from last year’s 5,700.

“The reason for that is, last year at this time, we were still coming off [COVID-19] restrictions,” he said. “Not everything was open. Now, nationwide, things are open, there are fewer mask mandates, fewer restrictions. Travel is definitely coming back. This will put us at about 90 percent of where we were back in 2019.”

Gas prices going up

And all of those increases will be despite the record-high prices of fuel.

This interactive map tool from AAA can display the average of gas prices for each state in the nation. As of the writing of this story, Pennsylvania’s average price is $4.77 per gallon – higher than the national average of $4.59. And demand is only going to make prices go up.

“Tighter supply and increased demand have pushed pump prices higher,” said AAA in a previous story on PennLive. “This supply/demand dynamic, combined with volatile crude prices, will likely continue to keep upward pressure on pump prices.”

Those same fuel costs affect airline prices, Miller said, but more slowly.

“It doesn’t happen right away, but it does happen,” he said. “It’s unlike the gas station, where we see prices jump from $4.50 to $4.75 overnight. It’s harder to raise air fares that way, because air fares are all based on demand.”

And the closer you get to the day of departure, Miller said, the more those prices are going to rise.

“Flights, car rentals, accommodations, tours, cruises and other activities are in high demand right now, and availability will fill up,” Spiegel said.

Safety precautions

With the increases in numbers of drivers and vehicles on the road, it’s logical to assume that some of the dangers in driving would increase as well.

Ironically, PennDOT statistics from 2020 and 2021 reveal that, even when fewer cars were on the roads, there were more vehicle-related deaths during the pandemic than in the year preceding it.

“There were actually fewer crashes,” said Jennifer Kuntch, spokesperson for PennDOT. “But there were more fatalities. It’s hard to say why exactly that was happening. We can point to the data. We can tell you that there were more unbelted fatalities, we can tell you there were more impaired fatalities or more distracted driving fatalities. There were definitely more aggressive driving fatalities – and aggressive driving includes speeding, or careless lane changes, and things like that.”

In response, several agencies, including PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Pennsylvania State Police, have issued reminders about the obligation that drivers have to keep both themselves and others safe.

“We just want everyone to kind of take take stock of the safety behind the wheel,” Kuntch said. “You know, it’s all of our responsibility.”

Mark Compton, Pennsylvania Turnpike CEO, cautioned drivers to be prepared for that additional traffic by paying even closer attention to driving safely.

“A moment’s distraction can have devastating consequences,” Compton said in a press release. “Put your phone down, watch your speed and pay attention to what is happening on the roadway.”

The same press release quoted Corporal Matthew Johnston of the Pennsylvania State Police, who said, “with Memorial Day weekend upon us and a surge in holiday traffic anticipated, we echo the reminder to motorists of the importance of safe driving habits.”

State police barracks such as Troop L in Berks, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties, have issued statements announcing their intent to crack down on impaired, distracted or aggressive driving this weekend, as well as on seatbelt usage and speeding.

Planning is everything

This advice might come a bit late for those who haven’t set their travel plans in stone already. But for both flying and driving, the sooner you start planning a trip, the better.

“If I’m looking to buy an airline ticket, there’s always fluctuation,” Miller said. “It’s like a stock price. Stock prices go up and down all the time. So do airfares. So if you find a fare you think is fair and reasonable, book it. It’s going to go up the closer you get [to the date of departure].”

Miller advises that, if you’re flying, you’ll want to arrive early. And the earlier your flight departs, the more time you want to give yourself. In addition to increased numbers of travelers, like many other industries, airports are having a harder time hiring staff members. And that can mean even more delays going through TSA inspections.

“If you’re flying before 7 a.m., be here two hours early,” Miller said. “The days of showing up 45 minutes or an hour before your departure, like you could do doing the pandemic, and breezing through security? Those days are over, especially if you’re traveling you know before 7 a.m.”

The further out you can buy tickets, the better, he said, with the ideal window being between 30 and 45 days before your flight to lock in the best price. But if you’re going last minute, you can at least try to pick the best days to fly.

“We found that the average lowest airfare is 6 percent more than it was last year,” Spiegel said, “with Saturday being the most expensive day to fly, and Monday being the least expensive day.”

For driving, planning is also helpful. Spiegel said that driving with windows down is cheaper than using air conditioning, despite the debates to the contrary about wind resistance. It also helps to double-check your plans for accommodations in advance, to ensure you’re not scrambling when you arrive at your destination. And planning a route in advance can also save both time and money.

For those hoping to plan a driving route, Kuntch recommended PennDOT’s new 511pa.com website. Among its features are maps from previous years, which show when and where traffic tended to pile up.

And it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on the weather, either. It’s no fun driving into a thunderstorm, but flying into a thunderstorm isn’t even an option.

“A bad thunderstorm in Chicago or Dallas or Atlanta can really screw up the national airline system,” Miller said. “So come prepared for a delay if you have if you have a connecting flight.”



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Cornwall traffic and travel news on Thursday, May 26 – live updates


It’s been a cloudy start to the day with many areas of Cornwall experiencing continued showers today so do be aware and drive carefully. But in terms of traffic and travel information you need to know – we’ve got you covered with everything happening across the roads.

In terms of traffic incidents it has remained quiet overnight after an evening accident on the main road in and out of Newquay caused delays on Wednesday (May 25) with congestion throughout the coastal town. The road has since reopened.

There is still a range of roadworks across Cornwall including on the A30 (at Zelah), A390 ( Callington ), A388 ( Launceston), and the A3074 at Lelant. Temporary traffic lights also remain on Bodmin Road in St Austell and Molesworth Street at Treven. The B3314 bridge repair work near Wadebridge is also still underway with delays expected and diversions in place.

For more updates scroll down to read our live traffic blog below. You can send updates to us on Facebook or by emailing cornwalllive@reachplc.com.





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Cops: 500,000 fentanyl pills found in Arizona traffic stop


This photo released by the Casa Grande Police Department, shows a collagen supplement bottle that concealed approximately 500,000 fentanyl pills that were found in an SUV pulled over for speeding on Interstate 10 in Pinal County, Arix., on Monday May 23, 2022. Two women, Martha Lopez, 31, and Tania Luna Solis, 30, were arrested Monday after about 500,000 fentanyl pills were found collagen supplement bottles in an SUV pulled over for speeding on Interstate 10 in Arizona, police said.(Casa Grande Police Department via AP)



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