LIVES HANG ON THE BRINK AS IDAHO TURNS A BLIND EYE! THE DANGER IS REAL BUT THE STATE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MONEY.

 THE MAX ALLEN REPORT

Volume #113022-1600                             November 30, 2022

IDAHO PUTS MONEY AHEAD OF HUMAN LIFE

This is what it looks like where neighbourhood meets traffic.  This is a view from a home in Shenandoah Estates Seniors Community on State Street, also called Highway 44.  Nestled along the side of this extremely busy stretch of road between Roe and Glenwood Streets, it's a mostly quiet place where seniors should feel safe in their golden years.

This stretch of road is a wild west show, an open invitation to speed, race, and drive recklessly because ... there are no police here!

I've spoken with a number of residents here and not a one can recall ever seeing any police on this stretch of road except in case of a serious accident.  In fact, the only time they DO see police is when they are responding with paramedic and fire response.

They all recall seeing minor collisions aplenty where the motorists simply trade information and part, never calling the police.

In a 13-week period there have been 2 major incidents within 25 yards of each other where vehicles have crashed the fence separating homes from the highway.  In these incidents vehicles have landed within mere feet of people's bedrooms too.

In one case a car catapulted with sufficient force to shatter a power pole like a matchstick, still having enough energy to go through the fence and stop feet from an old woman's bedroom.  The solution here is simple.  Put up a safety barrier of some sort, station police along this stretch of road, and maybe ... just maybe lower the speed limit just a tad.  Say maybe, by 5mph.  What's so damned hard about that?

This woman whose fence was destroyed, and peace forever shattered tells of how she is under treatment for PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] after nearly 2 tons of glass, metal, and wood chips nearly took her life.

She flinches whenever a diesel rig throttles down or a motorcycle revs its motor or a car peels out, burning rubber.  Sleep no longer comes easy for this woman who especially fears the dark because it's beneath the cloak of darkness that most of these incidents occur.

In another incident only 13 weeks later a small truck slid off the road with enough speed to cross a lane, shoulder, easement, fence, and come to a sideways stop feet from an elderly man's home.  Again, it was well after dark when the shenanigans begin on Hwy 44.  His life too, has been forever changed ... and not in a good way!

He no longer takes his dog into the back yard to play.  He no longer tends his neatly manicured yard.  He sits up nights wondering if that next vroom or roar of an engine will be the last sounds he ever hears!  He spoke with me but here, unlike Mrs. Q earlier, I have had to quote him.  He's shy and doesn't want his voice out.

He says, "It's always been a little noisy here, but you get used to it.  At night there's the drag racing on the street but that doesn't last long because they're always racing away from you, you know?  Since the crash I'm always on edge.  Those noises I got used to scare me now.  I'm not sure what to do."

After weeks working with ITD they've finally come to the expected and not surprising decision that a life or two just isn't worth dipping into the state's multi-billion-dollar cash reserve.  No, it seems a $100,000 security fence just isn't worth it.  For the price of a decked-out pickup or a Tesla Plaid they'll turn a blind eye to the danger these elderly people are facing.

Hitler was a master at declaring people non-essential and 'disposable', much as Idaho's governor did these past two years of Covid-19 hysteria.  The similarity is frightening, and you should never let anyone trade lives for money!  What type of 'human trafficking' is this?

There no excuses for this.  Speed limits can be changed.  Police can patrol the roads and enforce safety.  Simple barriers of cement, plastic, or steel can be easily erected.  But the only thing they have excuses for is that the citizens are worth less than a beautiful truck or an equally beautiful car!

Shame on you in government!

Call them and get things done!

Matt Clifford, Ada County Sheriff   208-577-3000

Kendrick Wills, Idaho State Police  208-884-7110

Scott Stokes, Idaho Transportation  208-334-8000

Brad Little, Governor of Idaho        208-334-2100