http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php en Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:27:02 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/images/techtwo/misc/rss.jpg http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=9 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:57:09 GMT It has taken me a while to get to the point of writing this. On June 23rd I got a call from a Kentucky Representative (Tim Moore) telling me that... It has taken me a while to get to the point of writing this.

On June 23rd I got a call from a Kentucky Representative (Tim Moore) telling me that this effort was seeing progess with HR 5, a resolution that he initiated. Since then my phone has rung non-stop. Most of the calls were from political figures and media from all over the state.

When Gov. Beshear called me on July 1st, I was in total disbelief. There was no way that any governmental agency could act this quickly !
He told me of the 2 press conferences to be given in Hart and Jefferson counties on the 2nd of July. My girls and I attended both. As the Gov said "you started this......... should be at both".

As usual, the media focus was on Jennie and me. We were the first public faces for this cause and they felt the better story was about us. The best story was actually about the Jesse's, Myra's, and Cassie's that have died before this cause to get action and a reaction.

My son, Jeff, his sisters, Jolene and Jennifer, and a lot of friends helped pushed me into this course of action. As a family we decided that the next death was unacceptable. Unfortunately, we were not quick enough nor strong enough to get a reaction before Jesse's accident.

Myra, the girls, and I often talked about what our final wishes would be. We were an Army family. We flew around the world a few times and risked danger often. It was a necessity to have that discussion. Myra had 10 and a half years in the Army herself. I had 23+. We were pragmatists. We felt that cremation was the best way to deal with our remains. We joked with the girls about making more room for tomatoes and peppers. "Ashes to ashes......" We had a vegetable garden almost every year and were planning one this year.

We have not yet had a proper memorial for Myra and Cassandra as this cause to save lives became so important to us. If this site is still up when we do have a memorial, we will invite all of you to attend. Myra, Cassie, and Jesse (and all before them) gave their lives to save lives in the future. I, for one, will rejoice in that as I weep for their loss, and mine. ]]> Dave Lawson http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=9 http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=8 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:32:10 GMT Today marks the 3rd month that I have had to do without Myra and Cassie. It seems like an eternity. Yet, I can remember the two of them and Jennie... Today marks the 3rd month that I have had to do without Myra and Cassie. It seems like an eternity. Yet, I can remember the two of them and Jennie leaving that morning, Jennie's phone call from the crash site, the ER at the hospital, informing Jennie of their deaths, calling the rest of the family.........
Everything from that day is etched in my few remaining brain cells. I doubt that even alzheimers will erase those memories.

The losses I feel are only eclipsed by my anger. Why can't this state see that installing barriers of some kind would save lives? Is there a magic number of lives lost that has to be met?
I hope we do some good here, people. Maybe we have only just begun and maybe we have come a long way. I, personally will not stop until I see some trucks off-loading some kind of barriers on I-65 and getting ready to install them. ]]> Dave Lawson http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=8 http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=7 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:49:58 GMT I was in a very bad car accident Friday night, May 30th 2008, in my brand new 2008 scion tc (I bought this car January 1, 2008). Reilly and I were... I was in a very bad car accident Friday night, May 30th 2008, in my brand new 2008 scion tc (I bought this car January 1, 2008).

Reilly and I were driving back home to my place from Columbus, IN. We were on I71 North bound and I got cut off from a semi, I hit the right rumble-strip, over corrected and crossed over into the left lane, swerving to miss the semi. I then lost control of my vehicle after hitting the second rumble strip and flew into the grassy median, we then proceeded to do a 360 in the wet grass and hit the cable barriers, which stopped us from being flung into oncoming traffic. The car caught on fire and Reilly and I ran like hell away from it. I had some cuts from the glass (my panoramic sunroof shattered) and Reilly may have broken her index finger, but we survived. and we are soooooo lucky.

*update - the insurance has deemed it a total loss, and a no fault, non-injury accident. I keep getting questions about this - no alcohol or drugs were involved in this accident. It was simply an accident, and I did the best I could to avoid any collisions with any other cars.

Click on the link below to see what damage the barrier did to the car - but NOT to US!

http://picasaweb.google.com/jmrodi01/ScionTCAccident ]]> Jenna Rodighiero http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=7 http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=6 Fri, 30 May 2008 14:29:40 GMT Today was one of those "why" days.

Why did I get out of bed? Why did God do this to me? Why am I fighting for a cause that to the goverment seems less worthy than a stadium in Louisville or a horse park in Scott county? And like so many people asked me in the beginning, "why doesn't somebody do something about this?".

My bathroom sink broke. I have 4 or 5 days of dirty laundry, dirty dishes and dirty floors. I haven't really cleaned house since March 19th. My ISP (Comcast) won't boot up. The grass hasn't been mowed in 2 weeks. My "todo" list is longer than I-65 to Bowling Green. The attorney wants me to bring him some paper work that I can't find. ( the legalities of 2 estates and multiple lawsuits, against them and on their behalf, are overwhelming)

My ISP finally came online around 3 p.m. and I had a few messages that changed my entire mood and perspective. A member of this site emailed me and told me of a push to gain more members, her plans to help get action, and some possible new contacts in the govenment. I answered her, fixed the sink, and did one load each of laundry and dishes.
Then I saw a message from another site. I had a PM from someone with political connections who is dedicating herself to our cause. She has now joined us and is an active member here.
One of my daughters called me later and told me to check the site. I thought there was a problem she wanted fixed. I logged on and was stunned. 43 new members in one afternoon and 7 PMs pledging support and various kinds of help. And only one spammer!!!!

Why did I get out of bed?
I have 3 surviving children, 3 grandchildren, and hundreds of friends and relatives who need me. I have the people here who want the barriers as badly as my family and I do. I have a mission.

Why did God do this to me?
I'm 58. My wife was 51 and Cassie was 22. I was supposed to be the one to go first and leave all of them grieving. Did He get this backwards? No, this was a tragic human error. As for a "why", if He did have a plan, perhaps it was to "do something about this". Maybe, because of the support of my family and friends, He figured that at least I could get the ball rolling. I guess He knew that I had more strength than I thought.

Why am I fighting ....... ?
I'll admit that giving up this battle would be easier, and it is tempting at times. Occasionally, I feel like I put more of myself into contacting media and politicians than I have to give. Someone does have to do something, though. Far too many lives have been lost needlessly because on a lack of action. Initially I thought that this would be a near impossible battle, but today changed my mind. Somehow I was able to interest enough people in this cause to spread to more people and get the word out. I truly believe now that we can get something done, and get it done soon.

Thank you all for joining and doing what you can to get "Barriers Now".

Dave ]]> Dave Lawson http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=6 http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=5 Wed, 07 May 2008 02:29:50 GMT My name is Dave Lawson. My family and I are here to help save lives in the future. It is too late for my wife Myra and Jennie’s twin, Cassandra. On... My name is Dave Lawson. My family and I are here to help save lives in the future. It is too late for my wife Myra and Jennie’s twin, Cassandra.


On March 19, on Interstate 65 at mile marker 61 in Kentucky, 3 people were traveling north to attend a 4H function. 3 other people were traveling south to visit a sister and daughter in a BWG hospital. No one made it to their destination. Only one person lived, my daughter, Jennifer. The northbound pickup with 3 people hydroplaned, crossed the median, and hit my van head on. Jennifer is lucky enough to be alive and have a father, older sister, and brother to help her heal and mourn, along with hundreds of extended family and friends. The other family left only a 20 year old son who was at college at the time.
This was a median cross-over accident that resulted in a head on collision. People have blamed every thing and everyone for the accident. Was it rain, the poor condition of the road, speed, bad tires? I don’t know and don’t care. A barrier of some kind would have stopped the other vehicle from hitting my family head on. It would have saved their lives and possibly the other 3 people as well.
The simple fact is, lives could have been saved by the use of barriers in the median such as the steel cable type in Louisville. I know my family would still be here with me and the other family would probably have lived as well. Instead of 2 vehicles meeting head on at a combined speed of about 140 mph, only one would have hit the barrier at around 80.
We have started to gather information that Kentucky officials have known for several years, information from other states, and information from the manufacturers of barrier systems. Our research is far from complete, the answers we get are not always factual, and no 2 state agencies agree, but we’ll share what we know to be true.
Of 884 miles of I-65 only 137 are in Ky. The majority of the fatal accidents on our 137 miles are between mile marker 48 and 74. That’s only 26 miles. Of that, about 11 miles either have trees or some kind of barrier. My math says we only need to worry about the remaining 15 miles.
The cable barriers are the cheapest and most effective solution. Cables give and concrete doesn’t. The cable system costs between $180,000 and $250,000 per mile. The concrete barriers are 3 times that. I figure we need roughly 1 and 3 quarter million $$$ to fix this road even if only temporary. The government people who’ve commented said road widening and barriers are being planned, studied, etc. Someone told me the projected start date for any action is some time in 2010. Meanwhile, we lose between $1.5 million and $4 million in economic, social, and comprehensive costs per life lost. Not to mention what pain the survivors go thru.
11 people have died on that stretch of highway this year so far. The next person might be me, my daughter from Scottsville, a tourist going to or from Florida, or a truck driver bringing you fruits and vegetables.
It is time to quit studying and planning for years in the future and do something now. If we can find the hundreds of millions to spend on researching and pushing casino laws, bridges in Louisville that go now where, I-66 that nobody wants, and other questionable issues, surely we can spend 3.7 million to save the next 11 lives.
Myra and Cassie Lawson’s survivors, my 3 children and I have decided to start a movement to convince the state to take action now. We urge every one in Ky to join us.
In fact if you are from another state and have lost someone on this road, please help us. Truckers, you see it every day, jump into the cause. My wife, children, and I can be the faces and name to give focus. But it is about all the families who can be saved in the future, not us.
We have a web site, check it everyday. It is under constant development. Give us your stories, the pictures of your loved ones and their obituaries, and facts and figures that you can gather. Give us comments about what you want on the site

Web site: www.barriersnow.com


To the government of Ky.: Talk to us. We’ll do your research free. Listen to us, we’ll find planners, and people of action to help.
AND if you’d rather spend your money on something more important than lives, I’ll find a way to pay for the first mile at mile marker 61.
WE WANT barriers NOW. ]]> Dave Lawson http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=5 http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=4 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:36:34 GMT *Hardin County man pushes for barriers along deadly highway* Updated: April 6, 2008 12:01 AM *ELIZABETHTOWN , Ky. (AP) --* A Hardin County... Hardin County man pushes for barriers along deadly highway
Updated: April 6, 2008 12:01 AM

ELIZABETHTOWN , Ky. (AP) -- A Hardin County man who lost his wife and a daughter in a traffic crash is urging the state to install a barrier along the stretch of interstate highway where they died in southcentral Kentucky.

Eight people have died in the past few weeks in median crossover wrecks along the stretch in Hart County. Dave Lawson's wife and one of their daughters were killed on March 19 when a pickup truck skidded across the dividing strip and slammed head-on into their minivan.

Hart County Coroner Jeff Roten said he is working with a state lawmaker in hopes of getting barriers installed. He blames much of the problem on pooling water.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?s=8090226 ]]> Jon http://www.barriersnow.com/forum/blog.php?b=4