Interstate 20 in Calhoun County named states most dangerous area for speed related crashes

A report released by state officials and the University of Alabama’s center for advanced public safety shows that Calhoun County's stretch of Interstate 20 is the state's most dangerous area for speeding-related interstate crashes.

From 2010-12, three people died in speeding-related accidents between mile marker 182 — at the Talladega-Calhoun county line — and mile marker 192, 10 miles east. Another seven crashes produced non-fatal injuries during the same period. No 10-mile stretch of interstate in Alabama had more fatal wrecks due to speeding, even in high-population areas such as Birmingham. Some areas had more total crashes with injuries, but researchers rated Calhoun County’s injury-producing wrecks as more severe.

Local officials are divided on the ranking and the possible causes of the crashes in the county. But they agree that the traffic situation is likely to get better now that significant upgrades to the road are complete.