JANUARY WAS ESPECIALLY DEADLY ON LOCAL HIGHWAYS CONSTRUCTION IS PARTLY TO BLAME.(FRONT)

Byline: LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER

A five-vehicle pileup that snarled westbound traffic in a construction zone on Interstate 264 for nearly two hours Wednesday was the latest in what state police say is a marked increase in serious accidents.

Three people have died and one man lost part of a leg since Dec. 19 in accidents involving disabled vehicles on interstate highways.

Two multicar pileups have occurred this week along I-264 near Military Highway, where nearly 120,000 vehicles pass each day through traffic lanes that are a foot narrower while construction for an HOV roadway is under way.

``This month alone there's just too many incidents not to take notice,'' said state police spokeswoman Tammy Van Dame on Wednesday.

While wintry weather has been a factor, Van Dame said some of the accidents were caused by disabled vehicles.

Driver inattention, especially in the construction area on …