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In less than a two-mile drive along Route 152, a motorist can pass through two of the state's most dangerous intersections, according to a state report.

As the site of 74 crashes during a three-year period, the intersection of routes 1 and 152 in Plainville was ranked as the 18th most dangerous intersection in the state, according to the state Department of Transportation's "Top High Crash Locations Report."

The ranking makes the intersection the most dangerous in the Attleboro area.

The report covers accidents that happened from 2005 to 2007 at intersections across the state.

The data is gathered from local and state police reports submitted to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The report ranks the 200 most dangerous intersections by the number of accidents, while giving extra weight to those crashes that result in injuries or fatalities.

With five lanes in each direction on Route 152 and three on each side of Route 1, the intersection near Lowe's Home Improvement is a conduit of a vast amount of traffic every day.

"There's a lot of moving parts down there," interim Plainville Police Chief James Alfred said.

Alfred said the bulk of the accidents his department sees are motorists trying to take an illegal left turn from Route 1 onto Route 152 South.

The intersection had a left turn lane several years ago, but it was removed and replaced with a turn-around lane on the right side.

Alfred said many motorists ignore the warning signs and try to make the left turn, anyway.

"There are several signs that say 'No Left Turn' there," he said. "We've written hundreds of tickets."

Of the 74 accidents, 31 have resulted in injuries, according to the report.

Plainville is also home to the state's 50th most dangerous intersection where Route 152 runs into Messenger Street.

The intersection is in a high commerce area, Alfred said, and numerous business driveways often lead to confusion and accidents. There were 80 total crashes at the intersection in the three year period, with 21 resulting in injuries, according to the report.

He said the accidents are typically rear-end collisions, and occur when motorists try to cut across multiple lanes.

Alfred said the intersection has also seen several accidents in which a driver taking a left turn is waved through by a motorist in the inside lane, while someone driving in the outside lane doesn't see the vehicle turning until it's too late.

"The bottom line is that whenever you're turning, you've got to be able to see who's coming," he said.

While Plainville was the only area town to have two intersections on the list, other communities did have intersections crack the Top 200.

With traffic flooding into and out of the Mayfaire Center shopping plaza, the intersection of Route 1 and May streets in Attleboro was in a tie for 82nd on the list.

The intersection, near Uno's Restaurant and a Stop & Shop supermarket, was the site of 69 accidents in the three-year span, 19 of which involved injuries.

The most dangerous intersection in North Attleboro during the time period was the junction of Route 1 and Chestnut streets, according to the state's list.

During the three-year span, the intersection saw 52 accidents, with 19 resulting in injuries, including one that was a fatality.

The intersection was ranked the 105th most dangerous in the state.

The intersection of School Street and Route 140 in Mansfield also made the list, tied for 143rd place. The intersection has seen an increase in traffic with the opening of two major shopping centers, and also connects the town's industrial park with Interstate 495.

The intersection saw 68 total accidents during the three-year span, with 14 resulting in injury.

MATT KAKLEY can be reached at 508-236-0333 or at mkakley@thesunchronicle.com.