DAYTON — Over the last eight months, dispatch records obtained by News Center 7 show nearly 30 wrecks along one stretch of U.S 35 in Dayton.
All of the wrecks have a couple things in common. They’ve all happened in the rain, and all of the impacts have happened at the exact same spot on U.S. 35 west at the exit for Steve Whalen Boulevard.
Video News Center 7 obtained from ODOT’S camera network through a public records request shows the aftermath of the latest crash. It happened during the afternoon rush Tuesday.
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In the video, you can see a tow truck and firefighters pulling up to the wreckage to help. It’s a scene that’s nearly identical to a crash that happened on February 17 where a driver spun out on the rain-soaked highway and crashed at this same spot during the morning commute.
It was one of three wrecks that day in the span of just hours.
The final one that day happened just after 3:30 p.m., and ODOT video shows the emergency response to the crash in the rain.
A public records request News Center 7 filed with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office shows just how common wrecks are here.
Dispatch records show 29 crashes have happened at U.S. 35 west at the Steve Whalen exit over the last eight months.
ODOT confirmed this section of U.S. 35 is the City of Dayton’s responsibility.
News Center 7′s John Bedell reached out to a city spokesperson Wednesday asking whether this week’s rain or standing water from potential drainage issues have played a role in any of these wrecks.
He also asked whether the city considers this stretch of highway a problem spot, and if there are any plans to make any changes to address them if that’s the case.
“The City of Dayton is unaware of any issues with water at this location. Additionally, yesterday’s rainfall was not heavy enough to overtax the storm system and as such no reports of standing water were reported,” a city spokesperson said in a statement.
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