Another Death on Paradise Drive

Regular readers will remember our previous blogs on the dangerous problems connected to Paradise Drive in Waterloo. Today that stretch of road claimed another life. From Hank Thomas:

Today one of the leaders who has worked over 13 years to get the many safety defects corrected on Paradise Drive lost his life in one of the defect areas in a head-on collision. Dr. Gil Parrish who has fought so hard to protect the citizens who live and drive on Paradise Drive was killed. I had sent an email on January 14, 2019 to the commission Chairman reminding him that nothing had been done to improve the safety of Paradise road since the young man's death in May of 2012. 

The Chairman called me on Thursday January 17, 2019 and advised me he would come down to view the road in a week or two. I encouraged him to bring the road engineer and anyone else he wished to bring. Dr. Parrish and I had made plans to be available when the Chairman makes his visit. Today I sent an email advising the Chairman of Dr. Parrish's death on the road and assured him I still wanted to meet ASAP. Thought you would wish to know.


We realize that progress takes time and that many of the initial holdups on the Waterloo situation can be placed at the feet of former commission chair Dewey Mitchell. Let's not let Dr. Parrish's death be in vain. The economy is on an upturn, and revenues are available for this project. 

Thanks to Mr. Thomas for persevering with this unfortunate situation and our sympathies to the family of Dr. Gil Parrish.