Latest U.S. 2 fatality inspires action in Sultan

Published 10:52 pm Tuesday, February 23, 2010

SULTAN — The year’s first fatal collision on U.S. 2 has locals again talking about the need to fix the deadly highway.

On Monday night, 56 people attended the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition meeting — about four times the usual number, coalition members said.

Bruce Ramsey’s death last Wednesday drew the large crowd. His friends and family wanted to know how the state planned to improve the highway.

Now, that same group of people plans to keep the heat on officials with petition drives and trips to Olympia.

“We just don’t want him to have died in vain,” said Lezlie Pickett, one of Ramsey’s friends.

Ramsey’s death was the 53rd fatality on U.S. 2 between Snohomish and Stevens Pass since 1999. The previous fatality occurred after a Ferndale woman walked into traffic in Gold Bar on Aug. 27.

Ramsey, a lieutenant at the Monroe Correctional Complex and father of two, was riding his motorcycle on the highway when a Honda sedan pulled out in front of him at Rice Road.

The collision remains under investigation, and no citations have been issued, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.

U.S. 2 has four lanes and no traffic signal at that intersection. A Chevron gas station lies to the south, and a McDonald’s restaurant to the north. Locals say there have been many near-accidents at the spot.

Transportation officials, however, said the intersection hasn’t been a point of concern until now.

From 2005 until Ramsey’s death, 19 collisions took place there. None caused serious injuries, Department of Transportation spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said.

The intersection was not listed as a priority after past meetings between the department and community leaders, Pembroke said.

Ramsey’s death could change that. Traffic engineers will take a closer look at the spot, and explore ways to improve driving conditions.

“That’s what we’ve committed to do,” Pembroke said.

Locals say some of the improvements could be simple, and transportation officials agree.

For instance, Rice Road could be limited to a right turn only, discouraging drivers from attempting to cross U.S. 2.

Another idea would lower the speed limit on that section of the highway to 35 mph from 50 mph.

Fred Walser, chairman of the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition and a Ramsey acquaintance, said he will take those ideas to Olympia today.

“The dollar amount is so minimal to put up signs and reduce the speed limit, it’s almost a no-brainer,” he said.

In the long term, a traffic signal or roundabout could be added at Rice Road. A timeline for that hasn’t been worked out. Sultan officials budgeted a stoplight at $1.4 million in 2008, but said the actual price tag may be higher.

Fixing the intersection, and the highway in general, will take years. In the meantime, Ramsey’s friends and family plan to stay active in the cause.

Pickett said she’s drafting a petition to push for safety improvements. And Gloria Wolter, Ramsey’s mother, said she’s ready to write letters to legislators and take trips to Olympia to talk about U.S. 2.

“Whatever needs to happen,” she said, “I’m going to be a part of that.”

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.

Memorial service

Family and friends will hold a memorial service for Bruce Ramsey at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Sultan Middle School gymnasium, 301 High Ave. Guests are invited to bring a potluck dish, along with their favorite stories and pictures of Ramsey.