Fatal crash on Cornelius Pass Road prompts new search for safety

[Concerned Parent]

I personally have banned no one. Since the beginning of the foundation it has evolved to include the teen safe driving program as well other things. I do not know what the percentage is of accidents on Hwy 30. I am personally supportive of many foundations that help to save lives. I did not have the stats with me at work yesterday when I responded but I would be glad to get the info and post it. Those documents are stored at the foundation. The foundation purchased them from Mult. County. I did not.

[Concerned Parent]

When I was speaking of Scappoose Vernonia Hwy. I was speaking of my own personal experience and not on behalf of the foundation. I have not had any discussion whatsoever with the foundation regarding Scap-Vern. Hwy. It was just a personal thought.

[upset parent]

"The foundation is happy to support any effort for safer roads and safer driving. We are currently taking one thing at a time but are supportive of other efforts." This is yoru direct quote and the one to which I referred to when I was writing.

[TokyoDoku]

Horrible. I was almost hit by a car today and I wasn't even on the road. I was sitting down on a bench and some guy nearly hit this woman's car and to avoid it,he swerved off the road and narrowly avoided my leg. There was smoke everywhere and the other drivers were looking at me like "wtf" lol.

Also,I pushed the button to cross this street one day and usually I won't cross if there are a bunch of cars [because I know how stupid some of these drivers are!],but it was really hot and I was tired of waiting. So the crosswalk light says "walk" and I'm nearly to the end,when this stupid woman almost kills me. She rounds the freaking corner like she's speed racer or something. She stopped in time,but I still wanted to throw a rock at her windshield.

[Scappoose Resident]

Even without the numbers the summary Concerned Parent provided regarding the causes of accidents is very interesting. Maybe having made CP a no pass road will reduce the number of accidents, loss time from work due to injuries and loss of property.

I don't get what all the hub bub is about. The TBF seems to be focussed on CP rather than all the highways in Columbia County, makes sense to not get spread too thin. If someone else is passionate about highway 30 or Scapp-Vern hwy then do your research and go for it, you might have a ready made supportive organization to back you.

Why keep hammering and nit picking on old issues? There were some pretty nasty things said early on, if that's what caused someone to get banned from a blog or website, can't say that I blame the moderator.

[upset parent]

Well I can't speak for everyone that has written something that is negative against the belwood foundation so i speak for myself. When I first heard of this on the news i was immediately upset because i felt the road was being blamed for an accident. I feel that people are blaming the road for it being unsafe and then blaming the counties and commissioners for not doing anything about it when their hands are pretty much tied with that road due to the lack of "space" for available improvements. Like one person already said asking for gaurdrails can be asking for more accidents or more injuries and then in some places there is nowhere to put a gaurdrail. I feel for the family but I think they have taken a trajic accident and then created fuss and alarm where it wasn't due. No one is forced to drive that road. No one is forced to work in Beaverton and have to drive that road or find alternaitves. Its a choice that people made when they either accepted their job or moved out here. This is a county that wasn't built for the amount of traffic it has to deal with now and now we are seeing the consequences and rather than people stop and look at themsleves and find fault in themselves they are quick to point fingers and blame someone else or something else. Thats how I feel and why I keep hammering away at an old issue. We all have our opinions. This is mine and I am sticking to it! I will never ever support the foundation nor will I even think of putting a bumper sticker as dumb as "pray for me I drive CP dailiy" on my car. I think thats about the stupidest thing in the world.

[claudia in StHelens]

i totally agree, upset parent.
The bumper stickers are so dumb. it only makes me feel more sorry for the family...that they can't find a way to closure.
blaming a road is denial of reality.
the facts of this accident have been miss stated and construed to further their agenda.
Drive that road or any other at your own risk. Take responsibility for yourself..and others on the road with you.
that is MY opinion...and like you...i'm sticking to it.

[Concerned Parent]

In what way have the facts of the accident been stated incorrectly? The newspaper reports say speed MAY have been a factor. The police report says that as well...MAY have. No one knows. I personally believe that a guardrail would likely have prevented Taija from losing her life at the bottom of that 65 foot ravine. She MAY have been speeding and hit ice, she MAY have been looking at the radio, she MAY have had a deer come in the road, someone MAY have swerved in her lane. There are lot of MAY have happened situations. A guard rail MAY have saved her life. I am amazed at how well the family is dealing with the loss. They are incredible people. Claudia and upset parent are right each person has their own opinion. I can respect that. That is why I don't name call or pass judgement.

[Driver]

I drive Cornelius Pass Road every day from St Helens to Hillsboro for work. I have driven the road in the middle of the day to the middle of the night. There is nothing wrong with this road. The problem with the road are the drivers, the ones that have to pray everytime they have to drive the road. If you want to make Cornelius Pass Road safe then dont drive on it.

[Concerned Parent]

Driver, that is a great idea to not drive on it. Alot of the problems are from the increased traffic on this rural arterial. The deterioration of the road along the sides and underneath is happening more and more with the increased traffic. There is one spot on the road that is so deteriorated that you can look under and see all the way to the other side. It may be possible with the price of gas that more people will use it. That would be unfortunate. A rural arterial is designed to carry no more than 11,000 cars per day. The last traffic count had the road at 14,ooo trips per day. This week there is another traffic count taking place so it will be interesting to see where the level is now.

[upset parent]

So little miss concerned parent who seems to know so much about CP what do you think the county can do about this road since you seem to be so informed why don't you enlighten the rest of us. It is my opinnion and beleif that those who feel this is an unsafe road just stay off of it. Then it will be less traveled and by far safer. I never seen any problem with that road that needed to be fixed.

[Concerned Parent]

This week there is an independent road safety audit taking place on the road. This is being done by the Federal Highway Administration so there is no cost to the county or the state. After they conduct the audit they will make recomendations for improvement. After the results are completed the task force will look at what things can be done in the short term and the long term. Some of the more inexpensive things that I would like to see would be a delay at the light at CPR and Hwy 30 where Lonnie Frieberg was killed last April. An electric company has offered to put up ice sensors at no cost, a total donation. Lighting would be fairly inexpensive. I am not a civil engineer these are personal opinions.

[Scappoose Resident]

Maybe they'll have recommendations for Highway 30 as well. Maybe the techniques can be applied to some of the other roads in Columbia County, Scappoose Vernonia Highway for one. Anything that can ultimately reduce the untimely loss of life, property, or lessen injury would be great.

Isn't there a large development slated for the Bethany area near PCC Rock Creek? Wouldn't that increase traffic on CP? I don't think people will stop driving that road whether they like it or not.

[Concerned parent]

That is one of the purposes of the federal Highway Admin. doing the audit so that they can train county and state officials to do this on other roads. This is the first time ever that this has been done locally by the FHAdmin and used as a training tool. There is a large housing development planned and it is in Washington Countys plan to make CPR a four lane road right up to the Mult. County Line. Then all of that traffic will go to two lanes for the most dangerous stretch of the road. I personally think with gas prices and the growth the tendency will be for more people do drive the road. For some it is not an option to drive all the way around. Tough call for people.

[Margie]

If people would slow down and be more considerate it would help the world a lot. My husband has rolled over the side of Germantown which is just as dangerous area. May God give you peace with your loss

[Concerned parent]

Margie I agree with you totally. A little common sense and courtesy go a long way in making our roads safer. Germantown is also a scary road. There are roads just like CPR in every county in the state. I was helping the foundation at an event the other day and a woman came up to me from Texas who was visiting her son. She told me how her son took her over to Beaverton via CPR and all she was very scared. She was shocked that there were not guard rails in more places.
Every time I help the foundation at an event there are similar stories. At the same event another couple told me that three months before Taija their 18 year old son went off in the same spot as Taija. He rolled 3 times and landed on his wheels. They were so thankful that he had only minor injuries.

[Scappoose Resident]

Margie, I hope your husband is okay. I would much rather drive Corn Pass than Germantown, Logie, or Rocky Point... then there are the numerous Columbia County Roads that are horrifying...

Concerned Parent, your involvement and sharing of information has been very insightful. I've done more of my own research into some of the information provided here, the Taija Belwood Foundation website and other resouces. All I can say is God bless this family, the foundation and the precedent for change they are setting.

As for the rest of you nay sayers... shame on you. Roads can cause accidents when they have slides, when they errode, when they are too narrow for commercial traffic, or inadequate for the amount of use that will not change.

If something positive comes from their efforts, good for them and again - shame on you because you will have also benefited.

[St Helens Native]

I haven't benefitted! I dont think the road is an issue. Its the drivers. I don't have a problem driving on CP. So how am I benefitted. I feel safe driving it and I am not crying for it to be fixed.

[Concerned Parent]

The changes that are happening will benefit the drivers. Recently at a foundation event a lawyer commented to me that he felt the no passing really calmed drivers down a bit and he was so appreciative of that. Also with the teen safe driving program it should help to teach more young people about safe driving on rural roads. The education piece is just as important as the engineering piece. Through my experiences with the foundation I have come to find out that 10 years ago this was addressed as a fatal road. St. Helens native it is great that you feel safe on the road there are many that do not feel safe at all. Everyone does has a different comfort level.

[St Helens Native]

Then I strongly urge those who drive it and feel unsafe to stay off of it. There are those of us who think the road is fine and those who are seeking change. It isn't right since no one forces you to drive the road. Accidents are accidents. You shouldn't be placing blame on a road. Thats so stupid of all of you. And those bumper stickers are more proof of how absurd all of you really are. Yes I understand that people are walking up to you and saying "oh my the road is so unsafe! Why my loved one drove off of it too!" or the idiot lawyer that said he thinks the insignificant no pass signs made people calm down. What the heck is up with that stupid comment. Oh yah I forgot to mention that lawyers talk out their butts not out their mouths so I wouldn't take anything a lawyer says seriously.