I am writing in response to the Oct. 23 letter to the editor, Makanda intersection is not a death trap. I am surprised and hurt by the inconsiderate thoughts that went into this letter.

I understand the point Mr. Novy was trying to get across about being more careful on any road. I agree, but the two teens who died Oct. 7 were innocent passengers.

When you read the Oct. 20 Sign Language editorial appropriately, no one blamed the Illinois Department of Transportation for the occurrence on Oct. 7. That editorial was a simple why on our parts as locals who see what happens on these open highway areas.

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Mr. Novy, you of all people should be equally sensitive in this area of wanting to warn people who travel through this area. As you said yourself, it was just another accident, and it always will be just another accident until it involves someone you love. We, as taxpayers, should have the right to make suggestions for example, have more patrolmen in this area more often to catch the numerous speeders on this particular road. This would pay for the caution signs that would warn people who are not familiar with this area.

It would serve the same purpose as a stop ahead sign. I believe a warning sign would be a great asset to the drivers passing through this area who do and don’t know the road. On the other hand, our tax dollars can be spent on pictured signs of deer in a 30 mph speed limit in a rich residential area. We can’t ask we for a simple warning sign on our highways? What are those signs for to save us or the deer?

Get drivers to think about what they are doing while they are on the road. Slow down, be cautious and never assume anything.

I am the sister of Jennifer Riegger, who lost her life in the Oct. 7 accident.

freshman at John A. Logan College