The children had been locked in their bedrooms and not allowed to have food and water as punishment. The man and his wife admitted to police that the refrigerator in the home was chained shut during the night to prevent the children from eating. She pleaded guilty to neglect and battery charges last year and is serving a 10-year prison term. With 17 people dying in car wrecks along the stretch since the beginning of the year, even authorities are concerned the road is more dangerous than others in the state. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office plans to drop the speed limit to 45 miles an hour from 55 in an area where the highway narrows from four lanes to two.
Officials say they plan to enforce the new speed limit with increased patrols.
They also plan to increase the size of traffic signs alerting drivers of the lane change. In addition, two sets of rumble strips will be added to the highway in effort to keep drivers awake behind the wheel. Click for Local News Archive SEI Data Local News is not for redistribution. Any use of Local News with out the written consent of SEI Communications is prohibited. Submit a Local News Tip or Story.