Bedford Co., VA - As state police investigate the cause of fatal accident on Route 221 in Bedford County, local drivers say they're getting another reminder on the dangers of this road.

The most recent accident was just north of the Goode Country Store Thursday night. State Police say 23-year-old William Arthur of Forest died after his vehicle crossed the center line and ran head-on with a tractor trailer heading south.

In the last six months, VDOT (web) says this is the second fatal crash on route 221 within a half-mile of Goode Station Road. And between January 2006 and December 2008, VDOT recorded 27 crashes in the same area, 10 of those with injuries.

These numbers are no shock to local drivers, who have their own stories.

James Normandin works for Goode Rescue Squad "My car got hit responding to a call because someone was going too fast. So I actually had emergency lights on my vehicle at the time and it was hit."

Chris Thomas is a frequent driver on 221. "With these tight intersections we've got up and here and people trying to pass in no passing lanes, things like that, it's pretty dangerous."

But VDOT says the crash rate on this stretch is typical for a two lane road with the same traffic count. And with each wreck, the state looks for room to improve.

They say in 1994 they added intersection warning signs. But VDOT says the best way to prevent these crashes is with drivers themselves.

Debbie Shinstine with VDOT said, "They need to make sure that they're not tired and things like that because the least little bit of wandering over across the center line could cost them their lives."

VDOT says drivers not paying attention and deer are two main factors for these wrecks on Route 221.

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