Unfortunately, this warning came too late for two people in Dunn, North Carolina. On January 12, 2010, Bert Baytops of Newark, New Jersey and a female companion were fatally injured on Interstate 95 when apparently the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The car ran off the road and hit a guard rail and shot back on to the roadway where it rolled to a stop. A tractor trailer driving in the same direction unknowingly came upon the scene and could not stop in time before smashing into the car still in the middle of the roadway. The force of the impact caused the passenger to be thrown from the car. The car blew up with the driver still behind the wheel of the car. Interstate 95 was closed for over five hours.
That’s exactly what happened to Carlos Perez of Geneva, New York, on August 21, 2009. Mr. Perez was driving his car with three other passengers, including two children, 12 and 5, on the New York State Thruway. Trucker Ronald J. Constable, Jr. of Earlton, New York was hauling kerosene on the same stretch of road. The trucker came upon Mr. Perez’ car which was cruising at 60 M.P.H. in the passing lane. He decided to "coax" Mr. Perez back into the right hand lane by maneuvering his tractor trailer within a few feet of the car. Mr. Perez responded to the tailgating maneuver by reducing the speed of his car. The truck driver then decided to coax Mr. Perez even further by ramming his Kerosene filled truck into the back of the Perez’ car several times. Mr. Perez pulled over to the side of the Thruway and Mr. Constable followed. Mr. Constable got out of his truck and approached Mr. Perez who was still seated in his car. He then proceeded to beat and choke Mr. Perez in front of the two children.
At this point a passing trooper saw the incident and stopped. The trucker was charged with felony reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment.
Proceed with caution here, but this video captures the truly awful consequences that arise when drivers do not look out for the other guy and operate their vehicles safely.
In the aftermath of major collisions, we help people begin to pick up the pieces and put their lives back together. I hope and pray that you are never in this situation, but if you are, be sure to get the help you need.
]]> If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious auto accident, feel free to call us, day or night. I cannot begin to express how important it is to get started right away. Collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses will become more and more difficult as each day passes. Our telephone number is 1-800-827-7898. You can speak with me directly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you would prefer, you can also submit information about the accident to me by clicking here and completing the short information form.]]>The fuel tanker collided with an overpass rail, and fuel began to spew out over the highway. The fuel caught fire, sending the truck into explosive flames which began burning the overpass. The heat was so intense that the overpass began to melt and fell on top of the already burning big-rig. The collapse caused another, even bigger explosion according to passersby. Fortunately all three drivers escaped with only minor injuries and no deaths were reported.
Boy, were they lucky. This could easily have been an awful tragedy.
This is a prelude to having the bill passed by Congress later this year. At this point, there is no language included in the bill that would allow increases to truck size and weight. Unfortunately, it appears that Representative Michael Michaud is trying to amend the act to add language that was also included in H.R. 1799 which allowed drastic increased truck weight.
Larger trucks are the last thing we need. They don’t stop easily and tip over more frequently. Their already deficient break systems will fail if more weight is added. The heavier trucks will inflict more damage to roadways and bridges. Heavier trucks will require more fuel consumption and create higher pollution levels.
Call your member of Congress today and urge him or her to oppose any increase in the weight of tractor trailers on our highways. They are dangerous enough as it is - as the daily tragedies on the roads attest.
Edmund Theodore Jackson, a resident of New Haven, Connecticut, was driving his dump trunk down Davis Road near Farm Pond Road when he lost control and veered off onto the right shoulder. Captain Everett Clendenin of the North Carolina Highway Patrol explained that Jackson then overcompensated and caused the truck to cross the center median into oncoming traffic where Kara Walden Benton was driving with Chad Michael Benton in a Honda Civic. Ms. Benton avoided a head-on collision by driving onto the shoulder of the road but still could not escape the dump truck which then tipped over directly on to the car. Chad Benton was able to quickly escape the vehicle before being treated at WakeMed but Ms. Benton was pinned inside the car for nearly two hours (!) before she was rescued and treated.
The Dakota was travelling in the Pleasant Hill community around 8:15 PM. Unfortunately, the Dodge was carrying a load of yard debris that reportedly was hanging over the back of the vehicle, obscuring the view of its rear lights. Georgetown residents Michael Elliott, age 28, and his son were riding in the bed of the Dodge pickup when the driver of a logging truck ran into the rear of the vehicle. Mr. Elliott died at the scene from his injuries. His son is expected to recover from his injuries. The driver of the Dodge pickup was charged with driving under the influence.
This collision had several contributing factors: an intoxicated driver, passengers in the bed of a pickup, and a load that covered the taillights. Any of these factors alone could lead to a tragedy, but the combination proved deadly when a multi-ton tractor trailer is the impacting vehicle.
Thanks to the Sun News and SCnow for reporting.