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KHOU

You're odds of getting into an accident are 27 percent higher than the state average.

Construction is a constant at I-10 and Highway 6. TXDOT soon plans to build a monster overpass to carry the highway over the interstate. But not much is happening to the south where businesses are growing, traffic is increasing and the number of accidents is rising.

The rate of accidents on Highway 6 between I-10 and Arcola is 27 percent higher than the statewide average. That's 2,096 crashes on the 25-mile stretch of highway since 2003.

Two years ago there were 11 crashes in one night on Highway 6 at Richmond.

Last year a rollover nearly killed the driver of an SUV when he flipped into a flooded ditch.

And Thursday, another crash.

"Looked like somebody was coming across Highway 6 here and this lady here was coming straight and they just pulled out right in front of them," said Billy Long, a tow truck driver.

On Highway 6, there's always something for Billy Long's tow truck to do.

So TxDOT has hired a Dallas firm to look at why crashes happen here. One culprit is the center turn lane which runs for miles.

Making matters worse are hundreds of business driveways that crowd the roadside encouraging risky turns.

"Oh yeah, it's typical. Every day probably three, four accidents right in this area," said Long. "Every day."

Within the next five years, TxDOT may replace some turn lanes with a controlled median and some driveways may be spaced further apart.

The contractor says just timing the traffic lights would be an improvement --lowering the odds for another crash to become part of an already disturbing statistic.