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By Heather Stauffer, Sentinel Reporter, May 17, 2007

Last updated: Thursday, May 17, 2007 1:23 PM EDT

Residents who live near the Monroe Township intersection where a young driver died Wednesday have been concerned about safety for a while.

The crash claimed the life of 2006 Cumberland Valley High School graduate Cole M. Baublitz, a former heavyweight wrestler for the Eagles, and sent 49-year-old Mechanicsburg resident Susan A. Daisley to Hershey Medical Center with injuries.

“It’s quite overwhelming right now,” said Cumberland Valley wrestling coach Dave Heckard Wednesday evening. “It’s a big loss to the wrestling family at Cumberland Valley.”

Heckard described Baublitz, 19, as a “great kid, hard-working kid” who everybody liked, adding that Baublitz always brought a smile to his face.

“I’m not saying that because of the situation,” said Heckard, who had just returned from the home of Baublitz’s parents. “I’m saying it because it’s true. We’re going to miss him. It’s tough.”

Second fatality at site

State police at Carlisle said the accident happened at 8:07 a.m. when Baublitz, driving a black Dodge Neon west on West Lisburn Road, ran a stop sign at the Route 174 intersection and was hit by a white Honda Accord heading south on Route 174.

Following the impact, the Dodge went airborne and hit a tree. The Honda ran into the side of a house, police said. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, police said.

Baublitz was pronounced dead on the scene. Daisley, the driver of the Honda, was in serious condition at Hershey Medical Center this morning.

“This has actually been the second fatality in the last couple of months” at the intersection of West Lisburn Road and Route 174, said Monroe Township secretary Marge Metzger, noting that several non-fatal accidents have also occurred during that time.

“Residents are concerned,” she said. “They want something done. They ask what they could do to help.”

One woman who called even suggested that she might start a petition, Metzger said.

Both roads fall under state jurisdiction, Metzger said, and township supervisors would like PennDOT to conduct a traffic study and do whatever it takes to make the intersection safer. Police said two stop signs on Lisburn Road are the only traffic control devices at the intersection.

“The township has made a request to the state, and we’re waiting to hear back from them,” Metzger said.

Signal depends on funding

Asked about that, PennDOT spokesman Greg Penny acknowledged that the department received a letter from the township asking for the installation of a traffic signal. PennDOT will go ahead with the traffic study as soon as it is assured of secure funding for the signal, he said.

But that might take a while. According to Penny, it costs $80,000 to $150,000 to install a traffic signal, and competition for the state and federal money available for such projects is intense.

“Right now it’s not available,” Penny said. “First of all, there have been no fatal crashes at that location until this year.”

Records from 1997 to 2006 show only two major injuries at that location, Penny said, which means that, statistically, other area intersections are more dangerous and therefore have priority.

Installation could happen faster, Penny said, if the township can find a developer or other private source willing to help pay for a signal. He noted that PennDOT used safety money to install a signal at West Lisburn and Williams Grove roads in 2000.