Neighbors requesting alterations to a crossroads with a history of fatal collisions

Indianapolis, Indiana – A busy junction in northeast Indianapolis is causing a lot of folks to express concern.

Last weekend, there were two collisions that occurred simultaneously at the junction of E. 62nd Street and Knyghton Road. According to the neighbors, there has been a string of accidents at the crossing before those instances.

When approaching the 3-way stop at 62nd and Knyghton, one will immediately see the damaged guard rail and several pieces scattered from multiple collisions.

“The accidents that have happened the worst have happened at such high speeds that you hear it when it happens,” said neighbor Michael Abel, who lives right at the end of the intersection where 62nd Street ends.

During the past three years, Abel claims to have witnessed at least ten collisions caused by careless drivers who fail to recognize that his driveway is not a part of 62nd Street. In an attempt to create a barrier, he has even placed boulders at the edge of his driveway.

“And they [cars] go through and end up on these boulders,” Abel described. “Which you can see have been displaced by the most recent accident.”
Some vehicles have wrecked after traveling down Abel’s driveway, while others have gone straight onto or onto the rocks at its edge. A sizable gash from a collision that ended up in his neighbor’s yard remains a permanent mark on a portion of his driveway.

“They ended up rolling through the intersection at approximately 60 miles per hour,” he said. “Hit these boulders, ended up taking out part of the driveway and landed in the corner of my neighbor’s house.”

Abel claimed to have clear memories of that specific wreck.

“By the time I got out, fire was starting from the engine section and I ended up smashing a window to pull two people out,” he said. “And I unfortunately couldn’t get to the driver who I found out later passed away at the hospital.”

Over the past few years, there have been at least two deadly collisions at the crossroads. Although there isn’t always violence, neighbors report that everyday incidents of speeding and running stop signs occur.

“They need to slow down,” said neighbor Selena Suiter. “This is a neighborhood. There are people that live here, there are kids that are here, families, people out walking. This is a neighborhood, slow down. It’s not a cut-through.”

Although locals believe that driving after intoxication played a role in a number of the earlier collisions, they nevertheless wish the city would implement certain modifications, such as installing flashing lights, better signage, speed bumps, and squaring the intersection.

“Just anything to try and provide a lot more visual stimulation to drivers late at night to know that this is a stop and that 62nd ends here,” Abel said.

The crossroads now has more signage, according to the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.

In the meanwhile, the department invites nearby residents to propose modifications to the crossroads by creating a Street Change Petition. To start a traffic study, the petition needs to be signed by 75% of the affected property owners. The department will then determine whether or not the change is necessary.