Butler County intersection again site of serious crash

A notoriously dangerous Butler County intersection was the scene of a double fatal crash that killed a mother and her young son and left the father fighting for his life.

Alexa Perry, 25, and her son, Daxton, 2, were killed in a three-vehicle crash that happened at about 2:50 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the intersection of Ohio 73 and Jacksonburg Road in Wayne Twp., according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. The husband and father, Dalton Perry, 24, was recovering late last week after undergoing several surgeries for critical injuries, according to family members.

The Perrys’ SUV, another vehicle and a semi tractor trailer were involved in the crash. The investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office.

The crash has again called attention to the intersection, which for years has been the focus of plans for a roundabout. Trustees and county officials say that plans are progressing, and despite some concerns, they’re hopeful it will be an overall improvement for the area.

The Perry family lived in Eaton, where Alexa doted on her young son, according to her sister, Ariel Alexander.

“She was the best mother, that is what she was made to do,” Alexander said. “She was loyal and creative but really loved being a mom most.”

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A GoFundMe account has been established by Alexander to help the family, and another seeks to help Dalton Perry with his expenses.

“This GoFundMe is for Alexa and her precious baby, to help whatever funeral costs may not be covered, as well as memorial funds. Whatever money that is left over after the funeral will be donated to nonprofits, in Alexa , Dalton, and Daxton’s name. Please, if you can only choose one to donate to, Dalton’s medical and future care expenses are priority. We are heart broken. Thank you all for your kind words and donations. Words cannot describe how much we appreciate it, and please remain praying for Dalton Perry,” the account says.

Tracy Jones, Dalton’s sister, said last week he was continuing for recover, but has a long road ahead. He has undergone multiple surgeries to address abdomen injuries, and he suffered head injuries as well.

“He has a brain injury, so we don’t know what to expect,” she said.

Jones said her brother loved his family, especially his son.

“Daxton was just the most joyful baby,” Jones said.

Dalton Perry is a talented guitar player and is “very musical.”

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“It is just so terrible,” Jones said, noting her brother also excelled at landscaping and construction.

The crash was at an intersection deemed one of the most dangerous rural intersections in the area. State transportation officials in April said it was the fifth-most hazardous rural intersection in Ohio.

The intersection is slated to have a roundabout installed by August 2020 at a cost of $3 million, according to Wayne Twp. trustees and Ohio Department of Transportation officials.

The intersection has been an issue for years for trustees and the Butler County Engineer’s Office, who have tried flashing warning lights, rumble strips and flashing stop signs at the intersection, which sits at the bottom of two hills along Ohio 73.

But still serious crashes continued.

In 2016, following a traffic study, ODOT developed a plan for a roundabout at the intersection. Work has continued on planning and acquiring properties for construction.

“It takes awhile to design it right with the hill aspect,” said Wayne Twp. Trustee Ed Truster. “They did acquire all the properties, so I think spring or summer construction will happen.”

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Trustee Bill Jones lives on Ohio 73 and passes through the intersection often. An increase in traffic coupled with plenty of truck traffic from AK Steel and MillerCoors brewery could make navigating a roundabout challenging at peak times, he said.

“But it can’t get any worse. It is just tragic,” Jones said.

Trustee Mike Truster added, “Anything is going to be better than want we have.”

But he too is concerned about the truck traffic navigating the roundabout and maybe even causing a backup in the roundabout itself.

“I am hopeful,” he said, noting that since the Oct. 11 fatal crash he has avoided the intersection.

There are more than 20 roundabouts in Butler County with several more planned between this year and 2022.

The Butler County Engineer’s Office says roundabouts have resulted in a 60 percent reduction in overall crashes, 80 percent fewer injury crashes and 100 percent reduction in serious and fatal crashes.

“I fully support the project and anticipate that it will reduce the number and severity of accidents substantially at that intersection,” said Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens.

The Journal-News asked the state for its list of high-crash intersections earlier this year, after another crash at the intersection the intersection of Ohio 73 and Jacksonburg Road in Wayne Twp. This intersection is not included in the list because the roundabout project is in the works, according to ODOT.

Here are the top 12 in Butler County:

1. US-127 (Hamilton-Eaton Rd) at SR-73

2. SR-4 (Hamilton-Middletown Rd) at SR-747 (Princeton-Glendale Rd)

3. SR-4B (Bypass) at CR-18 (Princeton Rd)

4. SR-747R (Princeton-Glendale Rd) at CR-20 (Tylersville Rd)

5. SR-4 (Hamilton-Middletown Rd) at CR-113 (Liberty Fairfield Rd)

6. SR-4 (Hamilton-Middletown Rd) at SR-4B (Bypass)

7.SR-73 (Oxford State Rd) at TR-179 (T-179)

8. SR-747R (Princeton-Glendale Rd) at CR-2821 (Symmes Rd)

9. SR-747R (Princeton-Glendale Rd) at CR-115 (Muhlhauser Rd)

10. SR-4B (Bypass) at CR-2821 (Symmes Rd)

11. SR-122 (Roosevelt Blvd) at CR-600 (Breil Blvd)