Published: May 15, 2008 07:40 pm         

London couple seeks city’s help to end wrecks

Norton says vehicles navigating curve on Slate Lick Street end up in his yard

Thomas Norton Jr. and his wife were asleep in the bedroom of their trailer May 6 when yet another car ended up plowing through the yard and hitting the home.

Although the vehicle, which scraped a big chunk out of the trailer and damaged the floor joists, remained on its side, the driver was nowhere to be found.

“The speed limit is 25, but they might as well put up a sign that this is the Autobahn,” Norton said, referring the superhighway in Germany which is known for not having a posted speed limit.

“This is the fourth time the trailer has been hit,” he added.

Although upset about his home being hit — again — Norton said it is the fact that the driver (later identified as Tammy J. Bowling) ran off and didn’t bother to check to see if anyone was hurt, that infuriates him.

“She left her shoes and run off with the keys still in the ignition,” Norton said. “That’s what makes me mad.”

Norton’s home is located at the intersection of Slate Lick Street and Burley Lane, where he has lived for the past 27 years.

In that time there have been at least seven near misses where vehicles have missed the turn and ended up in his yard.

Until May 6, there were several railroad ties in the ground to which a steel cable had been strung in an effort to provide a barrier for the vehicles that miss the curve.

However, Norton wants a metal guardrail.

“I’m afraid to go to bed with nothing up there,” Norton said.

The road becomes even more dangerous about 3 p.m. when North Laurel High School students are dismissed for the day.

The Nortons’ property is within the London city limits. Because of that, Norton has spoken with city officials about the situation, asking them to install a guardrail.

London Mayor Troy Rudder could not be reached for comment.