Roads are an essential part of our everyday lives. They help get us from point A to point B, to our jobs, to school, to shop, and of course, back home, they serve to help get freight to the shelves, fuel to gas pumps, etc. Roads are important. Roads and highways also must be maintained to keep drivers safe, as, long as those drivers drive within the confines of the laws. When it rains, we should slow down, when it snows, we slow down, during construction we are asked to slow down, when there is an emergency vehicle, tow truck, or just a regular vehicle on the side of the road, we are asked to move over and slow down.
But what happens when the roads that taxpayers pay for are being neglected? Are those roads attributing to accidents? In Terry and Gaines County there is a stretch of highway that has become very neglected and dangerous. That stretch of highway is US Highway 62/385 South between Brownfield, Wellman, into Seagraves. Recently TxDOT placed three electronic warning signs on US 62/385 southbound lanes that read “CAUTION ON WET ROAD, SLIPPERY WHEN WET, NEXT 15 MILES.”
According to Terry County Sheriff Tim Click in 2020, there were 106 total vehicle accidents in Terry County, 20 of which occurred on US Hwy 62/385 South. In 2021 there were 87 total vehicle accidents in Terry County and 26 of them occurred on US Hwy 62/385 South. In the current year of 2022, in which there are a few weeks left there have been 100 vehicle accidents with 47 of those occurring on US Hwy 62/385 South, this includes an ambulance from Andrews, carrying a patient and the patient’s passenger, rolling over right north of Wellman and the highway was wet. (related story)
On Sunday, May 1, 2022, a deadly accident occurred just north of Wellman that killed three children. (related story) After an investigation of how the accident happened, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported that “Vehicle 1 was traveling southwest on US 62/385. Vehicle 2 was traveling northeast on US 62/385. Vehicle 1 entered an area of standing water on US 62/385, causing Vehicle 1 to hydroplane into the center median and then into the northeast-bound lanes of US 62/385. Vehicle 1 went into a spin while traveling across the northeast-bound lanes of US 62/385 before colliding with Vehicle 2.” Throughout US 62/385 from Brownfield to Seagraves, there are many places on the highway that has standing water when it rains, or after winter weather has occurred.
The portion of the highway where 47 accidents have occurred is supposed to be redone. According to TxDOT Project Tracker, US 62/385 from Brownfield to Wellman TxDOT will carry out a “Surfacing/roadway Restoration” construction. However, it shows it will begin in the next four years. From Wellman to Seagraves on US 62/385 TxDOT will carry out “Surfacing/roadway Restoration” construction, however, it is listed on the Project Tracker this construction will take place in the next five to ten years.
