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Deadly Route 209 Intersection May Change

STROUD TOWNSHIP — There have been several deadly crashes along four-lane Route 209 and Schafers Schoolhouse Road in Monroe County. That most recent, just ...

STROUD TOWNSHIP -- There have been several deadly crashes along four-lane Route 209 and Schafers Schoolhouse Road in Monroe County.

That most recent, just a couple of weeks ago, took the lives of two passengers.

On Wednesday, community leaders met with PennDOT to determine exactly what should be done to stop the wrecks.

Multiple cars mangled beyond recognition, two people dead: that was the scene at Schafers Schoolhouse Road at the intersection of Route 209 just a couple of weeks ago.

Pastor Karl Biernstein of the Shawnee Presbyterian Church says one of the victims, 76-year-old Mae Reinstra was a close friend, and member of his congregation.

"I was shocked and we're still grieving over the loss because she was such an instrumental person in our community," said Pastor Biernstein.

Stroud Township officials say traffic signals were installed more than 10 years ago to increase safety.

Now after several deadly crashes, area leaders and PennDOT met to consider changes.

"Do we leave certain movements that would be allowed out there? Can you make a right turn off of 209 onto Schafers Schoolhouse and vice versa?" said PennDOT District Executive Michael Rebert.

Scott Dietrich knew one of the women killed in that recent wreck on Route 209 and has concerns for many of his students from ESU who travel that stretch of road. He started a petition to allow radar enforcement for speed, and to eliminate all cross traffic.

"The intersection as it currently exists is in the midst of an identity crisis. Both directions, it's essentially a highway or expressway and all of the sudden out of the blue there's a stoplight," said Scott Dietrich of Stroud Township.

PennDOT officials now plan to study the intersection at Route 209 and Schafer Schoolhouse Road for a couple of weeks, because if they decide to change this intersection, they want to know how it would impact traffic throughout the area.

An overpass option was also discussed, along with possibly installing crash gates to allow emergency vehicles through as well as closing off the cross streets completely.

No matter what options, drivers in Stroud Township agree something needs to be done.

"We have all hated that intersection. It's an intersection that we have loathed for many years," said Pastor Biernstein.

PennDOT Officials say once they collect data from this intersection, they'll work towards a possible temporary solution for this winter.

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