Garage on Riverside Dr. destroyed again in auto accident
On Dec. 13, a northbound Ford F-150 pickup hit Randy and Vickie Garrett’s garage for the second time in less than three years. The truck also crashed through the outer wall of the apartment building next door to the north. (All photos courtesy of Vickie Garrett).
Randy Garrett grew up in Ypsilanti, but he has felt an affinity for the River Raisin ever since his dad, Brownloe Garrett, frequently brought he and his siblings to Manchester fishing during their childhood.
So he was thrilled to find a house on the market — not only in Manchester, but right on the riverfront, at 400 Riverside Drive — when he was looking back in May, 1992. He and his wife, Vickie, have made Manchester their home ever since. For a while, they shared their home with Randy’s parents as they cared for them later in life, and the elder Garretts also enjoyed life along the Raisin.
Vickie and Randy feel blessed by life as Randy has recovered successfully from a liver transplant and a subsequent heart attack that forced him into an early retirement. They enjoy the camaraderie of their neighborhood, working in the yard and garage, watching the ever-changing river as it runs past their home, and walking the dog through the streets of the village.
But some of the events of the past few years have made Manchester feel a little less idyllic.
On Friday, December 13, for the third time since M-52 was re-configured in 2012, their property — located on the curve that is the intersection of Riverside Dr. and City Road — was involved in an accident. Over the years, drivers have hit a utility pole and a large pine tree in the front yard on several occasions, and their attached garage was severely damaged in both February 2017 and in the most recent incident … along with the outer wall of the apartment building next door to them.
Vickie and Randy’s relatively new Chevy Colorado, parked inside the garage, was also totaled in the Dec. 13 accident. “We had just got the truck fixed up the way (Randy) wanted it,” Vickie laments. “I’m not really superstitious at all, but the fact that it happened under a full moon on Friday the 13th could change my mind!”
And the “what ifs” are both frightening and concerning. Both of the most recent accidents happened with drivers who had fallen asleep at the wheel, on otherwise clear roads. While their home itself was not damaged and no one was seriously injured in any of the incidents, it is not hard to imagine that the Garretts might have been out in the yard or inside the garage; that the vehicles could have hit a different spot while they were inside the house; that the cars might have gone into the river (which has also happened since the Garretts have lived here); or that a driver or passing pedestrian could have been severely injured or killed.
Vickie contacted State Sen. Lana Theis’ office as well as State Rep. Donna Lasinski’s office to see if the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) would consider installing a guard railing. She believes that the problems have increased since MDOT re-built M-52 in 2012 and is concerned that the new bank of the curve could have exacerbated the issue.
On Dec. 19, Vickie did receive a response from Theresa Grace at Theis’ office, indicating that it was determined in 2017 that a guardrail was not feasible due to MDOT requirements.
“The determination at that time was that installing a guardrail was not feasible, due to the requirement that MDOT provide crashworthy endings on both ends of the guardrail,” Grace said. “Note that these endings are 37.5’ Feet in length (each), and there is approximately 47’ between the Garrett’s driveway and sidewalk. Even if MDOT were to install a guardrail, the ending would not provide the protection for the Garrett’s house that they are seeking, as it is a breakaway terminal that an errant vehicle could drive through. As a result of this most recent crash, MDOT consulted with our barrier expert in Lansing. And his determination was the same as the staff’s in 2017.
The letter continues, “When the last incident occurred in February of 2017, MDOT implemented an incremental approach to improvements. We installed reflectorized post inserts on the curve advance warning signs, installed a chevron sign with reflectorized post insert, and improved the pavement marking in order to better delineate the curve.
“Since there has been another crash, it is our determination that we will place additional delineator reflectors around the curve (in front of the Garrett’s house), and install temporary rumble strips on the centerline of M-52 in the curve area to provide warning to errant motorists traveling northbound on M-52. Please be advised that MDOT does not typically install rumble strips in residential areas, as they can lead to noise complaints from residents. That is why we are pursuing the temporary rumble strip option. If we receive complaints regarding noise due to the installation, we will have the ability to remove them.”
Vickie still isn’t satisfied, however. “I would take out the sidewalk if they needed to make the guardrail longer,” she said. “It’s not a sidewalk that goes anywhere, other than to my front door. If it will protect our home and our property, it would be worth it.”
She contacted MDOT again last week, sending pictures of the accidents. “I pleaded with them again, asking if I could have a guardrail,” she said. “Their reply was that it was not enough room because of my sidewalk. I told him please move my sidewalk; I can move my sidewalk. The guy told me that’s a different story and he would talk to his boss on Monday.” So she’s feeling somewhat encouraged that the state will take her request into consideration.
Grace’s letter also advised that the installation of these measures is weather dependent, and would not be made until spring, and suggested that the Garretts may want to check with the Village of Manchester to see if there are any restrictions on them installing giant boulders or other obstructions outside of the right-of-way. “If the village okays the placement of boulders, you should check with your insurance company,” she added, “as they may help with payment to keep this from happening again.”
Meanwhile, Vickie was hoping that Santa Claus would bring her some large boulders for Christmas … as long as it could be approved by the village.
The late Brownloe Garrett, pictured in 1998 with the frame he made for the kettle which Vickie has always kept filled with flowers in the summertime. The frame was actually “upcycled” from a utility pole that stood in front of the house, after the pole was broken when it was hit by a car.
Debris from the Garretts’ garage was scattered along the riverbank after the most recent crash.
An August, 2016 accident happened when a vehicle went through the Garretts’ yard and hit a large iron kettle for which Randy Garrett’s dad, Brownloe, had made a frame from the utility pole that originally stood in front of their house at 400 Riverside Drive.
A Ford Escape was the culprit in a February 2017 accident that also damaged the Garretts’ garage.
The damage to the garage in 2017 was also extensive, and the kettle was hit once again at this time.
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