By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

AUBURN – Warning drivers away from outer Turner Street might be the best solution for accidents there, according to Police Chief Richard Small.

The road, which ends at Route 4 just south of Lake Auburn, is one of the more dangerous intersections in the city, he said. It’s especially bad for cars trying to turn left onto the busy state road.

“The problem there is not the number of accidents,” Small said. “When they do happen there, they are quite severe and that’s why were concerned about it.”

An accident there Saturday afternoon was typical, according to Auburn police. Driver Harold Woodward of Athens was trying to turn left onto Route 4 at noon Saturday. He began to cross the road and slammed into the side of a black truck driven by Nicholas Nickerson of Auburn, spinning it around and into the northbound lane of Route 4. There, it collided with a blue Kia driven by Christopher Jennings of Auburn.

Police put damage estimates from the crash at almost $20,000. Both Jennings and his 11-year-old son had to be pulled from the wreckage by Auburn firefighters.

Woodward was unfamiliar with the intersection and didn’t expect traffic to be moving as fast as it was, said Auburn Lt. Richard Coron.

“It just moves so quickly there, you really have to step on the gas to make it across,” Coron said. Police would ultimately like to see that part of Turner Street made a one-way road and closed to northbound traffic.

Small said the intersection does not qualify for a traffic signal. “It doesn’t have enough accidents, according to state ratings,” he said.

The city is still considering options. In the meantime, Small suggest drivers use Joline Street to get from Turner Street to Route 4.

“At least that has a stoplight,” Small said. “And it has a much better line of sight coming from the north, so you can actually see what’s coming.”

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