Deputies say speed most likely caused fatal Boone County crash
Tuesday, the Boone County Sheriff’s Department said speed was most likely the cause of a fatal wreck south of Columbia.
Last week, Abc 17 News reported James Gonzalez, 53, from Columbia was driving southbound on Old Mill Creek Road when his vehicle lost control on a curve and went into the creek. He was later pronounced dead at University Hospital.
Sgt. Brian Leer with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department said they are still waiting on the official autopsy report, but thinks speed most likely caused the crash.
Sgt. Leer said there have been at least five crashes on the short stretch of the road in the last three years. He said there are three main factors that usually lead to crashes on Old Mill Creek Road including bad road conditions from weather, drivers not paying attention and speed.
The posted speed limit for the road is 40 miles per hour before the first sharp curve on the road driving south from Columbia, and 50 miles per hour after Mill Creek bridge. But posted speed cautions before the curves read 20 miles per hour.
One woman living nearby said she has seen a large increase of traffic on the road with growing development of new houses in the area. She has seen several incidents near the curves and hopes changes will be made.
Abc 17 News reached out to Boone County Public Works engineers to see what standards exist for county roads, but the engineer would not comment on camera.
According to Boone County Commissioner Dan Atwill, the road was resurfaced within the last year or two, but there is no known plan for any more improvements.
