SIDNEY — Shelby County Sheriff John Lenhart announced Thursday, Feb. 15, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has committed to provide safety cable barriers in Shelby County along the Interstate 75 median by mid-October.

According to Lenhart’s press release, wire barriers will start at the Shelby/Miami County line where existing cable median barriers end and will continue to Auglaize County where barriers are currently absent.

Shelby County will be awarded the grant on Aug. 6, and barriers will be installed by Oct. 15, 2018.

“There have been too many fatalities in our county that could be prevented by adding barriers along the median on I-75. I appreciate Rep. (Keith) Faber’s attention to the matter and for facilitating discussions with ODOT. This addition will protect our drivers and help prevent any more tragedies,” Lenhart said in a press release.

Lenhart said of the 1,402 crashes in the county since he took office as sheriff again in 2011, 21 have been head-on collisions and eight people died in these crashes. One-third of fatal crashes were caused when vehicles went left of center and crashed head-on, he said.

“If everyone on I-75 was doing the speed limit of 70 mph, a head-on collision would be like crashing at 140 mph,” Lenhart said.

The statistics from 2011 to present day show the majority of crashes occur on a Friday, and the least amount are on Tuesdays, Lenhart said. Out of the 1,402 crashes, alcohol was a contributing factor for 24 drivers. Also, 250 deer were struck on I-75, he said.

“This is how government is supposed to work,” said Faber in the press release. “I thank Sheriff Lenhart for recognizing this need and contacting my office. And I appreciate the state and District 7 ODOT offices for a quick response and commitment to provide safe barriers for Shelby County.”

Lenhart said, “In my opinion, this is a significant thing the state has agreed to do, and I appreciate it. I also thank Rep. Faber for spearheading this.”