I am writing you to try to avoid an inevitable disaster in the future. I attended and enjoyed the fireworks on  U.S. 321 as part of the Tweetsie's July 4 celebration. We parked on the side of the highway, as did many others. People were crossing the street to get a better view, which nearly caused a tragedy. I saw one family with children and an elderly grandmother, who walked very slowly, get caught in the middle of the road as a truck came barreling past them, and as cars going in the other direction sped by dangerously close.  I gasped. Children and families were crossing back and forth with cars speeding by.  It is a very dangerous situation.

I have seen many events such as this, but with a better solution. Traffic should only be allowed to go in one direction at a time with just one lane marked off with orange cones. Police could stop traffic in intervals to allow crowds to pass. At a minimum, traffic must be made to crawl in both directions, but keeping lanes to one or two with police in control would be best.

Fireworks are a beloved event for families, and July 4 brings out everyone wanting to be a part of our country's special  celebration. As a community, we have a responsibility to keep them safe. What I saw that night upset me greatly. It is just a matter of time before someone is hit, especially since drivers are watching the fireworks as they drive by.

Suzanne Gerard
Zionville