Kristi Noem promised regularly to stand for less government intrusion. But give her a chance to capitalize on sad children for political gain, and she instantly becomes a big-government regulator.
Three kids, all under sixteen, died in a car crash at the 34/37 intersection east of Woonsocket two Saturday nights ago:
Authorities say a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero was eastbound on South Dakota Highway 34 preparing to turn north onto South Dakota Highway 37. The vehicle collided with a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer that was westbound on Highway 34. The Alero spun around and collided with a 2011 Chevrolet Impala that was at the stop sign on Highway 37.
All three juvenile male passengers of the Alero were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as Jordan Klich, 15; Kristian Kesary, 14, and Dylan Klich, 14. Coen Harvey, 14, of Woonsocket, was transported to the Mitchell hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries.
Cynthia Peterson, 46, of Mitchell, was the driver of the Trailblazer. She also was taken to the Mitchell hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries.
The two occupants in the third vehicle were not injured. Abel Hernandez, 43, was the driver, and Ana Hernandez, 35, was the passenger. Both are from Huron [“Names Released in Sanborn County Fatal Crash,” KSFY, 2019.09.15].
The injured driver was also 14. The crash occurred at 7:52 p.m. State law allows youngsters with learners’ permits to drive with parental permission and without direct parental supervision from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., so four kids zipping around unsupervised in a car on a Saturday evening is legal… but is it wise?
But never mind that discussion, and never mind campaign slogans. Governor Noem’s solution to this wreck is more government:
Noem heard the appeal of the students and, not waiting for their presentation, took immediate action to change traffic control at the troubled intersection.
“Keeping South Dakota safe is our number one priority,” Noem said in a press release. “Intersection safety is part of our Strategic Highway Safety Plan, and I will continue to work with the DOT to identify areas of the state where enhancements to rural intersections can be made. After assessing this intersection in Sanborn County, it was clear that improvements needed to happen. Installing this additional traffic measure will better protect our kids, our communities and everyone on the road.”
Crews were in the process Monday morning of installing stop signs with flashing red lights on Highway 34 both eastbound and westbound at the intersection with Highway 37. Advanced warning signs, rumble strips and painted stop bars will also be installed to warn drivers of the upcoming stop condition [Erik Kaufman, “Woonsocket Students Bring Change to Intersection Where Three Schoolmates Killed,” Mitchell Daily Republic, 2019.09.24].
Hmm… it seems like just yesterday that Kristi Noem was telling us she wanted less government in our lives. And it really was just yesterday that Thunberg-haters were telling me that government shouldn’t respond to children making emotional pleas for change.
But let us praise the good Governor for giving Woonsocket students an object lesson in how the safety and stability of communities depend on sensible regulations and the expenditure of tax dollars. Kristi Noem just told those students, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help,” and contra Reagan, nothing scary happened.
I believe she has the ability to talk out of both sides of her mouth never knowing right or wrong, how many more months of this fruitcake.
What is the history of accidents at this intersection? Seems to be a political move.
Why was the normal processes by DOT not followed?
Noem sure didn’t worry about the safety of drivers on South Dakota highways when she get 21 speeding tickets. Really, that must be a record, And who knows if her children were in the car with her.
Wondering if the students were wearing seat belts.
I applaud NoMa’am for her response to an unsafe intersection, though it does seem knee jerk and at odds with her campaign claims.
Dead kids.
Governor making an intersection safer.
Mr. H, and the out-of-state name-callers, find only negativity.
And people wonder why the Democrat party is dead in South Dakota.
Don’t worry about us out of staters, grud. Besides we have a right to our opinion, your governors do have histories of speeding and killing people (Wild Bill).
Sam2, the Woonsocket kids got data from the state saying there had been 11 collisions at the 37/34 intersection over the last 15 years, including this month’s crash. I don’t have data handy on whether that’s an unusual rate compared to other state highway intersections.
Grudz, pathos does not excuse self-contradiction.
Does Noem want less government or more?
Does Noem want us to believe that government is bad or good?
Noem’s actions provide no coherent narrative other than, “Look at me! I’m wonderful!”
There’s the difference between Kristi and me, Grudz: I will tell the truth and speak from principles consistently regardless of the situation, whether or not it makes people like me.
Detached from Noem’s self-serving incoherence, the new stops signs send all of us one clear message: Government is good and necessary. We should expect every politician to spread that message consistently, all the time, not just when sad children are providing press-release opportunities.
grudznick is in favor of more stop signs. The government can put them up, or perhaps local service clubs could put them up. The issue here is stop signs and dead kids, not how Mr. H or the 3 remaining Democrats in South Dakota can twist the weather or Ms. Noem’s favorite color into something nefarious.
I hope that during this process, the young people are told people rarely stop for rural Stop signs.
Defensive Driving is what you need to practice at all times. You need to anticipate that the other driving is not going to stop. More hours of drivers education, including late evening and nighttime driving training should be considered.
It’s not a big or small government issue to me. It’s one of priorities.
Sam2 is right, but people power does make a difference. Traffic control remediation by anecdotal accidents is not be the best way to go about this. You have statistics on accidents on every road in South Dakota. Maybe your priority for improving safety ought to be to fix the biggest hazards first.
Here’s an idea. Make it a priority to fix all of the high and medium priority intersections as fast as possible. Pass a higher gas tax and dedicate enough funding to fix all these intersections in one year.
Grudz, write up that bill.
I am on it, Mr. Pay. If I like my results, I will get it through the legislatures if I have to hire breakfasteers to ply them all with the best gravy.