Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury has long recognized that a certain section of Hwy 165 South that goes through the parish has been a major safety concern for residents who live on both sides of the roadway. That concern became a painful reality once again following the deaths of Shericka Hollins, 18, and Brianna Nea,l 17. The two young women were killed on a dark section of Hwy 165 South in Richwood, LA, when they were struck by an automobile driven by Corey Buie. He would later turn himself in and was charged with a hit & run misdemeanor. The deaths of Hollins and Neal have only added to 12 other deaths over the years, and it seemed as if nothing would be done, or at least not fast enough. Former District F Police Juror/ State Rep. Pat Moore spearheaded an effort to bring road lighting along Hwy 165 South that started out slow, and her efforts were rewarded when the Police Jury was able to get the lighting project approved by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. For residents in the town of Richwood and others in the area, the lighting can’t come fast enough. Police Jury Parish Engineer Kevin Crosby has said that the bid for the project will not begin until May 2022, almost 14 months away. Lonnie Hudson, now the current District F Juror says that pedestrians who cross the highway after dark should wear light clothing, be cautious, carry a flashlight, or wear reflective gear. Those are common-sense measures to take, but there is one that hasn’t been mentioned. And that measure would be to reduce the speed on Hwy 165 from Winnsboro Road all the way to Richwood High School. Reducing the speed limit from 55 to about 40 shouldn’t be a huge obstacle for the Ouachita Police Jury to implement, especially with the stated purpose to save lives. That section of the highway could be considered a “danger zone” for pedestrians, necessitating a reduction in the speed limit, as it is within the town limit of Richwood. Reducing the speed limit would mean that drivers can have more time to react in the event they need to stop suddenly. That is because it is very difficult for pedestrians to gauge the distance and speed of an oncoming vehicle when it is dark. As they say in the medical profession, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is true when it comes to saving lives, not only from a doctor’s office but also on a dark highway. May 2022 is a long way off, as no more lives should be lost if the leaders of the parish government can get drivers to “slow it down” from Winnsboro Road to Richwood High School. All they would be doing is, saving a life.