TOWN OF RUTLAND, New York (WWNY) – Two vehicles crashed into Skip Cunningham’s home last winter. In one of those crashes, he woke up with a vehicle on top of him. Now, as he finishes repairs, the state is making changes at the intersection.
The New York State Department of Transportation has upgraded and added signage at the corner of State Route 126 and County Route 162 in the Town of Rutland, where the two crashes happened less than a month apart.
“Sometimes when you hear thunder and lightning, you jump up. You think of a big boom and something happened,” Cunningham said.
Repairs to the home
The damage was extensive.
“Had to rebuild the whole wall and do underneath on the floor. Got two new overhead doors,” Cunningham said.
What the state changed
After conducting a study, the DOT upgraded existing signs and added new ones at the corner.
“They moved this sign to over there, put the orange on top of it and added these reflective stripes,” Cunningham said. “If you come across there and you can’t see them signs, something is wrong — because if you come across there at night, it’s lit up like a Christmas tree now.”
Town reaction
Rutland Town Supervisor Logan Eddy said he is glad the state stepped in.
“I’m glad that the state is working with the family and taking a serious look at this intersection. I also think it’s just important to have this awareness of the intersection in general,” Eddy said.
What comes next
Cunningham said winter will be the real test.
“I’ll tell you next spring. Most every time it’s been in the winter. Yeah, you know — hopefully it is, let’s put it that way,” he said.
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