18th Ave. crash claims life of boy, 12

My heartfelt sympathy to the Dixon family. May God bless and comfort you all during this very difficult time.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dixon and Reick families. Mike, Karla, Allison and Jerrod - we are so sorry for your loss.

On another note - that intersection is VERY dangerous. You can't see to the north or south when approaching from the east or west. There should be red lights all four directions. Whoever designed this intersection better be ready to make some changes - this accident and the first one are only precursors of many more to come.

Our thoughts and prayers are with both families. Nothing can prepare you for this kind of tragedy, but the belief that God has a greater plan for all involved and that everything happens for a reason is one of the best ways to heal. You are all in our prayers.

Get Flashing warning lights installed NOW to let drivers know the signal ahead is red or will soon be turning red. These warning lights are very effective in other areas of Columbus.
God Bless the families involved.

What a trajedy for all involved. My thoughts and prayers go out to all victims and their families. More notice needs to be given to the public when changes are made at major intersections. When 3rd Ave opened up to traffic over a year ago, my son was almost hit by a truck because he wasn't aware that the arterial had been opened. I called the city and requested that flags and warnings should be placed to alert drivers to the change, as those who used that road daily were used to stopping and going, north and south, without any traffic coming from the east or west. Nothing was done. I'm afraid this accident was due to people being accustomed to just driving north and south without having to stop for east and west bound travelers. We are creatures of habit. The public should have had more warning and notice, via the media and physical signs and flags to let the public know the road was opened to east/west travel. In the end, drivers are responsible for their surroundings, but this accident and loss of life didn't have to happen.

Heart felt sympathy goes out to the Dixon Family. My God comfort you in this time of sorrow.

On another note: That intersection is very dangerous and there needs to be something done to let drivers know that the lights are working now, you can not go 6 months with the flashing yellow lights and then decide one day you are just going to flip them on and expect people to realize they are in full working condition.

My prayers are with the family. As for this intersection an over pass over both the Monastery and Mason roads would limit this type of tragedy from happening and also eliminate the countless lights. Fine city planners!

I drive that road every day myself, saw the glass from the accident earlier. I think what needs to be done is put up a sign telling people about the intersection coming up and warning them about the signal lights. If your used to traveling that stretch it takes a bit of adjusting to get used to the stop sign being there and traffic going in another direction. I'd also have to agree that this accident is probably a precursor of many more to come unless this is addressed right away.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families involved. May God reach out and help you all during this time of grief. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.

My thoughts and prayers got to the family.

I agree with phreakwars I to travel this road daily and befor it was opened up to the 4 way it was tough to see to the north due to the bridge railings and other blind spots and to the south curve is right their before you know it a vehicle is coming.But to turn the light on just for one day before you open it is a bunch of bull not all drivers take this road daily and would take more time to adjust poor planing from people responsible for the road.Just a reminder this will not be the last life to be lost at this intersection.

I dont know any of these people but you should never have to outlive your child. My prayers go out to the family and especially the brother. It was an accident. May God Bless.

I drive that road (18th ave)every day, and the lights are definitely messed up. Cars will be backed up on 18th ave 8-10 deep and the light will only stay green long enough to let 2 or 3 cars through. Yesterday morning a semi was attempting to make a left turn, the light turned green, and before he was able to complete his turn the light was already red. There was no traffic on the parkway for as far as I could see. There will definitely be more fatalities if nothing is done. My sympathies go out to the Dixons.

My spouse was also rear-ended at this intersection within the last week. While people need to pay attention better, it is inadeqautely marked. I was just happy at the time that my spouse and son(and the other driver) suffered no injuries. But seeing the serious injuries and now a death in less than a week, the city best open its eyes and do something NOW! This was a poorly planned opening of a busy road, and hopefully we dont see any more tragedies. My thoughts and prayers are with the Dixon family.

I had a close call before the parkway was opened to the west. I was west bound and stopped at the stop sign. As I started my left hand turn to the south, a car came roaring up from the south and wizzed by me, honking his horn and giving me a dirty look.

I do not know the family involved, but my sympathy and prayers are with you.

TO THE CITY: Please put up the flashing yellow lights (all directions) indicating that the lights will turn red...just like the entrace to White Tail. It is a safety measure that works.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Dixon Family and the other party!!!

Lots of people said that it was going to be a bad intercetion before the road was even built. Just like the one by the power house on 3rd ave. With that curve that was put in. how many cars had been in the ditch there already.
Many accdents happen by dicky doodles on highway 30 with that light, before warning lights were put up. Is this going to be the same problem?
Also the light on 18th ave sometime does not turn yellow be for it is red.

This bypass road should have had overpasses on it like around Schyler and Fremont.

My prayers and thoughts go out to the Dixon family and also to the Rieck family. This tragic event has touched our community and the lives of many people. May God give you all comfort and strength to get through this day by day. God's Blessings.

I don't know the familys involved but i am soooo very sorry for all them.

Design Flaw..I totally agree. But that's Columbus doing things only half-way. Is it too much to expect 110 percent from the people who planning this whole mess? WE EXPECT BETTER! and we DEMAND better!

I totally agree it was a poor design. We do everything half a## around here. I have heard about nothing but accidents since that opened avoid it at all cost !

Stay strong Mike, Karla, Allison and Jerrod! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

I feel especially sorry for the son that has to deal with this. My prayers go out to him and his family.

Last July I suggested to several city officials that the traffic control light be immediately switched from the flashing reds and yellows to the normal cycling mode to prepare the regular users of 18th Avenue/Monastery Road/Wilderness Road for the opening of the segment of Lost Creek Parkway between Wilderness Road and 33rd Avenue. This would have provided a lengthy time period for driver behavior modification while the intersection would not have conflicting east/west traffic traveling at 50 mph. I predicted that within six months of opening the intersection there would be a fatality unless we had this training period. My suggestions fell on deaf ears. Now we must come up with a corrective measure. Here are the options in order of cost: Close Monastery (not gonna happen); set the signal for longer yellows and delayed reds (may have limited effectiveness); take out the signals and put in stop signs for Monastery traffic, only (still need to train the drivers); flashing yellow lights to come on in anticipation of an upcoming change to RED (probably best solution without extreme cost); construct overpass/interchange (MAJOR CASH OUTLAY - NOT GONNA HAPPEN). When I predicted that within six months of opening there would be a fatality at that intersection I had no idea that it would be within six DAYS. I pray that we will do something constructive before there is another tragedy.

My prayers go out to the Dixon family. May God keep you strong throughout this terrible ordeal.

To the City: I agree with "everyday". I have driven 18th ave. for more than 30 years and have never had to worry about stopping. So to go from that to having to stop each time since the lights seem to be set up for the bypass drivers. The light should have the warning lights set up as well as be programed to be green for the same amount of time both ways like it is set up in town. There are a lot of cars driving 18th ave (even more than the bypass that I have seen). Do something now - no family should have to go through the loss the Dixon family is going through now due to poor planning.

My prayers go out to both families and especially the teen's family. Grief will pass, maybe too slowly, but stay strong in the Lord and you will make it through.
On another note, I'm not sure who planned that intersection, but obviously they weren't qualified enough to do it. We pass through that intersection mulitiple times a day to get to our house and my whole family has been saying something bad is going to happen here. Something NEEDS to be fixed to prevent further losses.

...THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED!!!!

Fremont? by-pass
Valley? by-pass

Columbus? arterial through residential zones and over a road leading to a high school, and a dead boy barely after the opening.

The people running the turnstiles of your town are idiots. Cetified IDIOTS.

My deepest sympathies go out to the families involved.

My heartfelt sympathy to the Dixon family. May God bless and comfort you at this very difficult time.

This is a VERY dangerous intersection. On Sunday we were driving home from church, not knowing the by pass was open. I screamed the light is red, we hit our brakes and came to a stop. I said, "Someone is going to get killed here real soon." Now its happened, please fix this problem before another life is lost.

My thoughts and prayers are with both families. What a tragic loss. My daughter goes to Lakeview with Jerrod. My son graduated with Allison.

My daughter and I were walking the Wilderness trail this past weekend. When you are a pedestrian walking with the green light, it does not last long enough for someone to cross all the way. We made it 3/4 across the intersection before the light turned yellow. Not only will there be more vehicle accidents, but I'm afraid that there will be accidents involving pedestrians.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (New International Version)

The God of All Comfort
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

May God be with the Dixon family and Reicker family, and with our city officials as I pray now they will look into making changes with this light and prevent any other incident.

Praise be to Christ for the new life that Brent is experiencing today and always! Amen. We will see you soon Brent! (all those who believe and trust in Christ Jesus our Lord)

My deepest sympathy to Mike, Karla and their family. I am so sorry this happened.

As I read through all the comments, there's one message that's screaming to be heard. THE INTERSECTION IS DANGEROUS! To think that this could have been prevented if only those that had the power to do something about it would have taken action. Shame on those that did. I refuse to believe that someone didn't know.

All accidents are preventable. That being said, I would like to know how a person goes about getting this changed. Is this something that is taken to the city council? (God help us all if that's the case.) Would getting signatures on a petition help any? And before the bypass is opened through 33rd Avenue and 48th Avenue, we should demand yellow flashing lights be installed far enough in advance.

Let's not just sit around and complain about this; let's do something to get it changed!! It's time to get serious before another life is lost.

First of all I feel so Sorry for this family. But Shame on the City Council, State of Nebraska Dept of Roads and probaly Gilmore and Associates. Why didn't they build an overpass at thses intersections? Why because they wanted to build an unsafe four lane road instead a of a safer two lane road with overpasses now and after that was completed build the second road to make it a safe 4 lane road with overpasses. You people on the city council, dept of roads, and Gilmore associates know who you people are. I hope you can explain to this family why more safty measurers wer'nt in place before this intersecton took someones life. And why you wanted a 4-lane road right away instead of a sasfe 2 lane road with an overpass.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the dixon family. We are sorry for your loss.
-cech family

To Ch: I don't think that you understand - Lost Creek Parkway now has traffic priority over ALL of the intersecting roads, including the Monastery. You will have to adapt and learn to stop at those intersections.

To the Dixon family our heartfelt sympathy go out to you.

To the people responsible for designing this road. I travel this road everyday twice a day. I said to my husband someone will be hurt badly or even killed. Little did I know it would be a relative of mine. This is a poorly designed intersection. I see people that are going south stop at the red light and turn left. Since when do we turn right on red. I witness on a daily bases people speeding up when the light turns yellow instead of slowing down to stop. Eighteenth Ave and 23rd Street by KFC is terrible. When turning to go North on 18th the light turns yellow and people gun it to make the light before it turns red. I wind up turn on a red light. Hint people there is a flashing sign at all intersection for the people walking that the light will change soon. Usually about 10 times. If you see the light flashing but don't know how many times slow down and prepare to stop.

Build a true BYPASS around Columbus NOW!!!!

My sympathies to the family and prayers for all involved. This is just heartbreaking.

To I told them: Yes, very much agree--"set the signal for longer yellows and delayed reds". The yellow light is very, very quick before it turns to red and with north and southbound traffic on 18th avenue going 50 miles per hour, it is hard to stop quickly. It would also help to lower the speed limit on 18th Avenue approaching the arterial.

Prayers to the Dixon family; stay strong. The new road that is being built through 33rd and 48th will have more accidents because there is alot of traffic that travels to and from the college, and to the Lakeview High School. The city of Columbus should really rethink about the safety on this road. 48th avenue has alot of traffic that travels on it everyday, and if they are just going to put stop signs and not clear out the trees there will be more accidents. What should have been an option is an overpass. This way there is no stopping for big trucks to run red lights and possibly bring the risks of accidents down. This is just the beginning of a new awakening of accidents.

Mike, Karla, Allison and Jerrod-

Our hearts go out to you; stay strong and we will be there soon. We love you.

I guess what I don't like about that intersection is the way the stop sign comes up on you all of a sudden.

When your driving South to North, you don't realize it's there until you come around that curve, but going North to South is worse. Your coming down that hill going around a curve and that intersection jumps out at you all of a sudden. I've been driving the 18th ave. path for years taking my kids up to shell creek in the morning. It does concern me the way the new intersection jumps out at you and the delay time on the lights sux the big one. It's way too short in the morning and afternoon when people like me are taking their kids to school. I suspect this was the case with the kid being killed. I hate having to get a notice from Shell Creek about a death and having to answer my daughters questions about it. It's tough to tell your kid how to handle a classmate who is hurting inside because a friend died, and explain to them the why's of life. I really believe this was a HUGE over site to the powers that be that plan on things like traffic control for the new roads in Columbus. I just hope it gets corrected quickly for the sake of all who travel 18th ave./Monastery road.

to Bypass Supporter:
PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ???! The Mason traffic has never had to stop anywhere in the lifetime of that road other than at the end of it or at the start of it! All people are saying except for the city and the designers is that somekind of warning like the yellow flashing lights like by cubbys and White Tail and also by Dickie Doodles or the ADM intersection! The angles of the Monestary with the curve coming from the north and the south doesn't give you much time to stop and this road is new every driver young and old can use the extra help! Just wait until the weather changes for good and it snows and gets icy out and we need even more time to stop! Your commit was heartless and souless must have not thought before you spoke or either you are a part of the city or was one of the designer!

This morning I took the road from 33rd ave to 18th ave. I timed the light as I had the red and there was traffic on 18th ave. 12 seconds of green for the 18th ave traffic, and I was the only car an the Walmart road for as far as I could see. Unacceptable!

My sympathy to the Dixon family. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. I too must travel 18th avenue to work each day and my son also travels that way to Lakeview. I am concerned as the weather changes and roads get icy what will happen. Please do something so more lives are not innocently taken.

My heart and prays go out to this family.I am really sorry about this accident. It should have been me and not such a young child that has had his whole life ahead of him.



PLEASE DO SOMETHING NOW BEFORE ANYONE ELSE HAS TO GET HURT OR DIE.THERE IS NOTHING TO THINK ABOUT JUST DO IT NOW PLEASE. THOSE SIGNS AND FLAGS DON'T DO MUCH.PLEASE PLEASE DO IT NOW.

To Outsider:
Yes, traffic on Mason Road (48th Avenue) has never had to stop ---- until an upcoming day in the not-so-distant future. There WILL be stop signs for Mason Road traffic on both sides of Lost Creek Parkway (bypass) as soon as that segment is opened to traffic. I suggest to the city administration that those signs be installed NOW so that drivers regularly using Mason Road will become accustomed to stopping and thereby help to avoid a tragedy at that intersection. If the light at Monastery had been fully activated a few months ago we may have avoided Thursday's tragedy. (At this time the public has not been advised as to which vehicle entered the intersection on a red light so the implications of having longer term 'training' of drivers on the Monastery are only speculative.)

It is so unfortunate about the accident. Now, people get your heads out of your you know whats!!! There will not be a overpass, underpass or anykind of pass on that road. Just like the same thing won't happen in town. And also, those meridians you are talking about are stupid. They don't abate noise, and as far as people getting killed on the tracks going through town, when was the last time it happened?

To bypass supporter:
My fault Mason in my first blog was suppose to say MONESTARY not MASON, and talking to semi drivers the MAJORITY are still going to go through town, the ones taking HWY 81 Route down from the NORTH for there will be less tire wear and brake wear with going through town no turning and going 35mph takes less to stop than 50 mph and they say the way you get on and off by Wishbones is a first class JOKE!

My prayers and sympathy to the Dixon family.
What I don't understand are the engineers and managers that get paid to design these absurd roads and the people that approve them. When the average person (non-engineer) can drive through an intersection and immediately comment "this isn't safe" there is a problem. My daughter is learning to drive and we have driven up 18th ave. several times. EVERYTIME we approach that intersection I remind her how dangerous it is - be careful! Now mind you I am no engineer, if I can see it, they (professionals) ought to be able to. Just because it looks good on paper doesn't always make it so.

Dear outsider
You do not cross major arteries of traffic, without either having over passes or four way stops with rumble bars. This bypass should have been more north of town. There are at least 4,000-5,000 cars daily on 48th ave and 3,000-3,500 on 18th ave. I am neither a designer or a city worker, and if i was, it would be different. Time to pull your head out your you know what!

First of all I would like to say my family and I are TRULY appreciative of everything that has been said.

I, myself, have HATED and DESPISED the thought of this by-pass since the beginning. It goes through the most RIDICULOUS parts of Columbus.

I now go to school at the University in Kearney and LOVE LOVE LOVE it there. In Kearney, we have at least 3 overpasses over the rail road that help TREMENDOUSLY with traffic and safety. I actually take one every time I go to work and it is so nice.

Columbus is a messed up town. I have never liked it from the beginning because they are too stubborn to do anything worth branching out.

All I know is I am NEVER settling a family down in this town, my brother's life for one reason. I never want to drive that road or go through that intersection ever again, but BECAUSE OF STUPID PLANNING I have to.

Columbus can deter making the right decision. Tears can be shed and memories remembered. My mom told me just days before Thursday that she was driving with Brent and almost went through the intersection. She slammed on her brakes and said "Wow, if I almost ran that there must be a death soon." Just days later, my brother, her son, a grandson, a loved friend, a classmate, and so many other characteristics was dead from that very intersection. My dad has almost run the light several times, other people that have stopped by our house have said the exact same thing. - Apparently the whole town of Columbus is having this experience.

I can't even imagine how many injuries/fatalities will occur opening up by the high school and college. Having taken college classes myself, I know getting to CCC can be challenging, especially now that that stupid by-pass is getting built.

Thanks for nothing Columbus.

My heart goes out to the Dixon's and their family!

I too travel the Monestary Road twice a day and the first Monday it was open, I came down the hill, in the dark, towards that intersection and I had to slam on my brakes when I noticed this little stop sign in the middle of the road...I would have gotten t-boned also if someone would have been traveling west. Then a couple of days later the lights were NOT working and people were just driving randomly through the intersection...no signs...no cops. Then another morning the airport lights were flashing, now that was a definite distraction! Is it going to take another death?? Whoever is responsible better be working on a plan of action!!!

This is absolute gross neglegence by the State Roads and The City of Columbus. I made the same mistake that these boys did. Opening up a fast lane intersection in that short of time without putting flashers up for a period of at least 6 months is an absolute crime. I can not tell you how mad I am about how stupid these city leaders are and now it has cost someone there life.

Dixon Family, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Allison, I couldn't agree with you more. I drive that intersection 10-12 times a day and have found myself now twice driving through the red light. Poor planning, obviously. This "road" is no by-pass, it's a glorified "City Street". How much is this going to cost the City Of Columbus before it's all said and done, is saving a little money worth the bunch you're going to end up giving out. I've asked my family to avoid driving that road, God knows what's going to happen when they open up the other killin intersectons. 18th Avenue and 48th Avenue are major roads leading into precious "Columbus" yet Smokin Joe and the rest of the apostles do whatever they can to suck in or steal more realstate to make Columbus better - ha, first thing you need to do is read the definition of a bypass - it's a through road - NO LIGHTS!!!! Good Luck Columbus, I'm with the guy wanting to get the petition going - where do I sign, let's not drop this.

This is such a sad story of which I seen coming long long before this intersection opened. Just like "I dont get it..." said, it doesnt take a mastermind to see that there is a huge problem with the design of this. I knew the first time I seen it that there would be a tragic accident within days of it opening. When I heard the news, it made me sick to my stomach because I along with everyone else knew it was going to happen.

I posted on here awhile back that this town has too many people that like to run red lights and that someone is going to be seriously hurt or killed. Please everyone let this serve as a reminder in town that beating the light is NOT worth it. Where do you need to be so fast that you cant stop for a couple seconds at a light?

Many comments on this article are critical of the design and placement of what is being called "bypass", "arterial", or, now officially, "Lost Creek Parkway". A great deal of study by the city and the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) was made before deciding on the placement that we now have. The public was given many opportunities to give input on this subject.

A southern bypass was ruled out because of the situation of the rivers, the location of the levee, Quail Run Golf Course, White Tail, Brandenburg Lakes, and many other existing obstacles. The options for the placement of the northern route were very limited due to the power canal and reservoirs, existing housing developments along East 14th Avenue, Indian Hills, the airport, Country Club Shores, and others. Because of the airport, an overpass and interchange at the Monastery was not a possibility. Other than the current route, the next really open route would have been north of Lakeview High School. Because of the much longer distance (more than double), and the need for bridges to cross the power canal and flood control ditch, the cost would have been prohibitive and still would have intersected Monastery and Mason roads.

At this point, the only design improvements that could be considered are contruction of interchanges at Mason Road and at Highway 81. These are unlikely to be considered because of costs, with the lack of funding due to, among other things, the condition of our state and national budgets and economy. The improvements that can be made involve installation of flashing warning lights the north and south directions on 33rd and 48th Avenues, and in all four directions, coordinated with the traffic signal, at Wilderness Road (Monastery Road). A more intense program of improving driver awareness should be implemented immediately. This could include installation of the stop signs and warning lights on 48th Avenue (Mason Road) NOW, well before the opening of Lost Creek Parkway to that intersection. The city and county could also consider a mass mailing to all residents of the county (including Columbus) informing of the status of these roads and intersections, including accurate estimates of future occurances that would impact their driving habits.

We lament the tragedy that may have been avoided but we must take the situation that we now have and be constructive in going forward with possible, but practical, change.

I have been in contact with whoever I can to get something changed this weekend. The City police were almost rude at my concern's. Platte county was a little more reseptive. Any puplic official needs to get something done with that intersection right now. Not tommoro, but now. People are not used to stopping once they head north out of Columbus. That red light has probably been run at least 100 times by now. If you think that is an exageration think again. I did it two days in a row and and I am only one person. Moser, the police, the Sheriff, public safety is your job. Whoever is in leadership and is not screaming for something to be done now is going to be directly responsible for the next death.

I hope neither driver "especially Jarrod", never feels like they are responsible for this. They like all of us were put in a dangerous situation due to very poor planning and leadership.

My family and I were schoolmates and fellow church members of the Dixon family, and this tragedy brought a real heaviness to the hearts of all in our community. We feel hopeful in the fact that Brent is now watching over us but so saddened for the family in dealing with the loss of their son/brother. We extend our greatest sympathies and hope they know the support that exists for them. You are in our hearts and prayers and we love you all so much.

After looking at the ITE and MUTCD formulas and guidelines for traffic lights, new and old versions, and checking it against the existing conditions, I have come to two conclusions.

1) The length of the yellow on 18th is too short for existing conditions.

2) The distance between the light and the curves is too short for 50 mph travel.

3) The TE may have used a method inappropriate for the location.

Short term fixes should include

1)Installing stop signs on 18th and change the lights to flashing reds on 18th flashing yellows on the parkway. Leave in place until winter weather is past.

2) Then change the timing on the light for a yellow on 18th of 6 seconds.


Long term fixes

1) Flashers to warn of the light change on 18th.

2) Lower the speed limit to no more than 40 mph on this stretch of 18th.

3) Add dangerous intersection signs prior to flashers.


Jerrod was not to blame for this, the designer is. I noted the first day I drove it that the yellows were too fast and started investigating.

Note to the Mayor/City: Unless the city takes quick action, this intersection will become a bonanza for personal injury lawyers.

"Formula" is on target except that the three long term fixes should be made short term fixes and, thereby, avoid the need to put up temporary stop signs and having flashing red and yellow lights. I don't think that we can afford to wait on putting in the flashing yellow warning lights (that start flashing when there is no longer enough time to get through the green light, assuming driving at the speed limit). Likewise, lowering the speed limit on 18th Avenue/Monastery/Wilderness Road should be done TODAY. (I wonder who came up with all of those names for what is essentially the same street!)