Concerned citizens get state's attention after Muselman tragedy

After the tragic accident in August that claimed the lives of prominent Berne citizens Art and Gloria Muselman, a number of phone calls were made to Indiana's Department of Transportation (INDOT) regarding the dangerous intersection at State Road 218 and State Road 1. Immediately following the accident, Priscilla Rodgers, a Wells County resident who lives near that intersection, told NewsChannel 15, "We need a four-way stop, or they need to do something about this intersection. There's too many accidents here, and people keep getting killed."

Speaking with NewsChannel 15 Senior Reporter Matt McCutcheon earlier this week, Ben Shaffer, an INDOT official, stated, "In the past month, we've gotten a lot of inquiries from many citizens, as well as the Governor's office, to look at this intersection." A 2003 report from INDOT indicated that approximately 2,800 vehicles passed through the intersection during a 12-hour period. A similar report in 2007 showed a significant increase in traffic, with approximately 3,400 vehicles traveling through the area in a 12-hour period.

On Wednesday, McCutcheon revisited the area surrounding the dangerous intersection. McCutcheon spoke with Henry Lynch, a youth pastor for Living Water United Methodist Church, whose youth ministry is housed in a church building nearby. According to Lynch, at least four accidents have occurred at that intersection so far this year. Lynch also said he witnesses approximately twelve accidents at that location in "a given year."

Five weeks of phone calls made by concerned citizens since the Muselman tragedy finally convinced state officials to make a change at the Wells County intersection. On Wednesday's eleven-o'clock-news, McCutcheon reported, "Their deaths have prompted the state to take notice. INDOT now plans to install a four-way stop [at the intersection].

"Work will begin on the project here in the coming weeks and should be wrapped up by the end of October. Changes also include "stop ahead" signs about a thousand feet away on both 218 and 1."

In a statement, INDOT's Fort Wayne Deputy Commissioner Bob Alderman articulated, "We would like to thank Governor Daniels and his constituents for bringing this to our attention. We believe altering the intersection to a four-way stop will provide the safest situation possible."

Speaking for the Muselman family, the deceased couple's son Roger indicated the family was pleased with the state's decision. "We took our family out there and prayed that this would happen -- that no one else would lose their lives at this intersection." He added, "It's just a very dangerous intersection."

Muselman stated further, "We want to keep their legacy alive, and we go through there, and we talk about them. We know they're in a better place. We just live one day at a time."