“They’re going to kill somebody if we don’t get something done.” –Adam Lowe
BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The ongoing construction of the Martin County Solar Project on South Wolf Creek Road is raising safety concerns among local residents due to the increased semi-trailer truck traffic on rural roads. Particularly, the residents along KY 2032 are voicing their frustrations and fears about the large trucks navigating the curvy, mountainous two-lane roads.
Adam Lowe and his mother, Elsie Lowe, residents of KY 2032, expressed their concerns Monday at the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
“They’re going to kill somebody if we don’t get something done,” Mr. Lowe said. “They just put us in the ditch line—and kept on going. He would have gone over the top of our vehicle if I hadn’t put it in the ditch line.”
The Lowes were still visibly shaken from the incident that occurred while on their way to Inez. Mrs. Lowe recounted the near collision.
“We were coming out of Blacklog – Route 2032 – and he was coming in,” she said. “He had the whole road, so we had to go all the way into the ditch just to keep him from hitting us. They don’t know how to drive these roads and they need to be stopped.”
According to Mr. Lowe, this was not an isolated incident.
“We have to fight with them every time we come out of there,” he said.
The Lowes are not alone in their concerns. Other locals have reported close encounters with the semis that are delivering freight to the solar project at the former Martiki strip mining site.
Chief Deputy Chris Kidd of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged multiple resident complaints of the semi-trailer trucks driving recklessly on KY 2032. He noted that in his encounters with the truck drivers, they were contractors unfamiliar with the area.
“They’re not from around here,” said Kidd. “They don’t understand the dangers of driving on that type of road with those curves. We’ve been advising them of the dangers of driving through there and trying to stay on their side of the road.”
The sheriff’s office has worked multiple wrecks involving the trucks on KY 2032.
“I don’t have an exact number now, but it’s more than five,” said Kidd.
Sheriff’s personnel have contacted the transport company and the solar plant management to advise them of the issue. Sheriff John Kirk suggested a potential solution would be for the solar company or transport company to employ a flagger to meet the trucks at the mouth of Route 2032 and guide them through the route to keep the citizens safe.
“We await their response,” said Kidd.