t For one family, it’s been nearly 60 years of accidents on their property.

When your home is built next to a tight corner along one of the island’s main north-south arterials, chances are you’re going to see a few accidents.

For Cheryl Boyce, whose family has lived at the intersection of Wyatt Way and Eagle Harbor Drive since 1949, collisions have become so constant that they are an important part of the family’s history.

The fence that parallels the Boyce land with the beginning of Eagle Harbor Drive is arguably the most accident-prone piece of property on the island.

It is overgrown with blackberries, scotch broom and pieces of chrome, plastic and bumper reflectors.

“It’s got a long history,” said Boyce, who lives in the adjoining house with her husband, Michael. “I wish I kept a log. There’s been hundreds of accidents with that fence over the years.”

The latest incident, recorded Aug. 18, involved a 1988 Honda Accord crashing through the rails after failing to navigate the steep left turn that continues on past Ray’s Automotive.

Although the driver claimed to have slid on the road, a police investigation indicated that excessive speed and driver inattention were the cause of the accident.

It’s no surprise to Boyce, who has had to deal with crashes on the property ever since her parents first bought the land. She also has met a wide cross-section of the population as a result of collisions. They range from friends to the relatives of state representatives.

“There have been a mixed combination of islanders, a diversified group,” Boyce said. “There are some people we know and others we didn’t… it’s almost like our claim to fame.”

As far back as she can remember, it was her job to do what she refers to as “damage assessment” – countless nights running out with a flash light to investigate the latest crash scene.

It is a wonder, she said, that there has been no serious injuries, despite countless close calls.

“One night I went to see what happened and the boy in the passenger seat was just white, he was so scared,” Boyce said.

“A (fence) beam had gone through the window and was inches from his face.”

Most often, residents have offered to repair the fence themselves, as a kind gesture and a way to keep police out of the matter.

Most accidents, however, stay off the books.

According to police department records, only two major incidents were reported over the past five years, though Boyce can easily remember six crashes in the past year alone. Certainly, the number of visible broken boards attest to a higher accident rate than what has been reported.

Despite what many would feel to be a danger and an inconvenience, the notorious turn has allowed Boyce and her family a few opportunities.

For her father, Al Cooper, every time a driver accidentally crashed through the fence, he would patiently await the insurance check.

“That was his extra income,” she said. “He would get the money to get the fence repaired and then he would go repair it himself. That was his allowance so to speak.”

The city redesigned the property in 2001. It converted the free-flowing stream that separated Eagle Harbor Drive and the Boyce property to a culvert to encourage salmon spawning.

The city also removed trees and replaced the beamed fence with pressure-treated, 2-by-6-inch planks and a variety of reflectors. The repairs, however, didn’t stop the accidents. Thus far it hasn’t slowed down the accident rate, but to Boyce and her family, it’s just another part of their family history.

“I’ve been away and back many times,” Boyce said. “This is still one of the best places I have ever lived and I have no intention of moving again. I love living where I grew up.”