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LIMA — Area posts of the Ohio State Highway Patrol are joining forces this summer season to keep a close eye on State Route 117 that runs through Logan, Hardin, Auglaize, Allen, Mercer and Van Wert counties.
Troopers report since 2011 there have been 16 fatal crashes on the highway stretch from the Lima area to U.S. Route 33 in Logan County. This year, there have been four fatal crashes on that portion of S.R. 117, and146 injury crashes
“In the summertime, late spring, early summer and throughout the summer, you see an increase of traffic down there, so with the increase in volume of traffic, obviously it’s more prone to have traffic crashes,” said Lt. Matt Crow with the Findlay Post of the Highway Patrol.
“What we’re trying to do is get out there and be proactive about it so we can prevent those crashes before they happen.”
Troopers will be looking for distracted drivers, seatbelt violations, failure to yields and left of center violations.