WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Deadly Accident at Merle's Truck Stop Draws Attention

Deadly Accident at Merle's Truck Stop Draws Attention

Lots of people are scratching their heads after a Friday night crash at Merle's Truck Stop on Highway 231 that killed two University of Alabama students.

Montgomery County Commissioner Reed Ingram put himself behind the wheel near the spot where the two young people died.

"I don't think they knew that they were in the road or coming up on road. There were trucks parked around blocking their view and I think they just pulled out thinking they were still in the parking lot," said Commissioner Ingram.

Commissioner Ingram believes if the Department of Transportation had clear markings on the road to show where the highway begins and ends, this wouldn't have happened. And he also wants to put more lights at the truck stop.

"At night you can see this intersection really good and this is what you want to see at the truck stop...these kind of lights. I want to see street lights like this, and I want to reduce the speed limit," said Commissioner Ingram.

He says the speed limit on the Troy Highways near the truck stops has never changed and it should.

"I want to show you what the speed limit is within 300 yards of the accident. It's 65 miles an hour," said Commissioner Ingram.

He wants it redudced to 55 mph.

"And then the trucks are parking so close to the highway when somebody has to pull out they have to pull almost to the intersection as you see to see and at night..truck park even closer to the highway," said Commissioner Ingram.

That's something Ingram says the owner should fix and so far the owner is willing to put up no parking signs near the highway.

The owner of Merle's, Gopal Brahmbhatt says he will do it at his own expense if he has to.

Because the County Commission approves the licenses for business like the truck stop, Reed says he's prepared to take some legal action against the owners if they don't cooperate and make the conditions safer.

The Department of Transporation has made improvements in that area. Officials have added acceleration lanes for trucks entering the highway and cut back trees for better visibility.

WSFA 12 News called the Department of Transportation for reaction to Commissioner Ingram's remarks, but we're told they can't comment until they see the final results from state troopers on what caused the crash.

Reporter: Eileen Jones