Indian Lake Road a challenging stretch

NORTH EAST — There are some roads that just beg for caution — curvy Indian Lake Road is one such example. Also known as County Route 61, Indian Lake Road is off Sharon Road, and travels between Sharon, Conn., and Coleman Station Road in Millerton. It’s maintained by the county and patrolled by the Millerton Police Department, as well as state and county police. Millerton Police Officer in Charge David Rudin acknowledged that the road has had its share of difficulties.“I can’t say there’s one particular main issue, but it is rather narrow and there are a lot of curves in the road,” he said. “It’s one of those grandfathered-in roads, and there’s not much they can do to improve it. It has very short property boundaries with a hill on one side and the lake on the other. It’s rather a problematic road, as we’ve seen.”Some of the problems drivers have encountered include accidents where cars have wound up in nearby homes. That’s right, inside nearby homes. And it’s happened more than once.Over the summer there was an incident where a car was driven into a house. That resulted in the house being torn down because “structurally it wasn’t sound,” according to Rudin.That particular incident, he added, involved alcohol.“Although there was no alcohol arrest, alcohol and speed played a factor,” Rudin said. “If you’re 100 percent and obeying all the laws, it’s not an issue. “The reason for those crashes generally might be weather related, or something isn’t normal; the speed of the car isn’t normal or the driver isn’t normal through drugs or alcohol or the weather isn’t normal,” he added. “Generally what I’ve seen along the way is the county put up guide rails, which help.”Rudin remembered another accident a couple of years ago.“If they didn’t put in guide rails … instead of hitting some property just north and west of the house, their house might have been taken out too. It guided the car along the rail and when it ended it went into the fence and then in front of the house, so it had the desired effect.”Yet despite its history, the officer said he’s hesitant to label the road as “dangerous.”“Saying ‘dangerous’ is a tough one, even though there have been crashes,” he said. “If somebody crashes into a house and somebody was in the house, I would say it’s dangerous. It’s just not what I would characterize as a safe road because the potential for accidents exists. It is more dangerous than other roads, and I guess I would say it’s a problematic road and probably one of the worst we have in town because it’s very narrow and twists and turns.”Town Supervisor John Merwin agreed Indian Lake Road can be hazardous and difficult to drive.“It’s a dangerous road at times,” he said. “It’s got all those curves and it’s close to the water, and so on.”The best approach to take is one of caution, said Rudin.“Follow the laws and I don’t think people will really have too many issues. That’s about the only advice I can give to anybody — and crashes are still going to happen because people are human beings and can’t always be 100 percent, and that’s why we’re there and the rescue squad and everyone else. “If people go below 35 mph and are careful in inclement weather they would be better off,” he added.

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