MARNE, Mich. (WZZM) - Residents in Marne say the deadly crash Friday isn't the first time a wrong way driver has gone up the Eighth Avenue exit ramp to get onto I-96.
Some say more signs and design changes could clear up any confusion and avoid future wrong way fatalities.
"They need to have somebody who designs roads take a better look," says Marne resident Pam Long. "They should put up some signs and make it a lot clearer."
Friday afternoon Leslie Laymon, 83, drove the wrong way up the exit ramp and headed east in the I-96 westbound lanes. He crashed into an on-coming car.
Laymon's wife was killed in the collision, and a passenger in the second car died from her injuries Monday night. Laymon and the driver of the other car were injured.
"I was sitting in my recliner watching TV and all of a sudden I heard the sirens," recalls Roy Taylor, who lives near the exit ramp.
Taylor says he's seen other confused drivers head the wrong way up the exit ramp, but they realize their mistake before it's too late.
"I've lived here 3 years and I've seen it 2 or 3 times," he says. "They realize it and back up and turn around. They turn around and come back."
MDOT says it has no plans to change pavement markings or the signs where the exit ramp meets Eighth Avenue, But managers will review the accident reports for possible improvements.
"If we see anything we can do we will do it," says MDOT spokesman John Richard. "Thousands of drivers navigate the ramp every day. It's difficult to think of a remedy, from an engineering standpoint,"
Laymon was driving even though his license was suspended. After a fender bender this spring, he failed 2 driving tests. The Secretary of State's office determined he was not competent to operate a motor vehicle.
