Freak Accident... Truckers beware!!!

[USMCBay]

Motorist killed when vessel slips off trailer



Pasadena police say the load was too tall for trestle



By RUTH RENDON

Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle



Pasadena police on Monday were investigating a freak accident in which a woman was killed when a steel vessel fell on her sport utility vehicle.

Police said the vessel — about 8 feet in diameter and about 10 feet tall — was being transported on the back of a trailer about 1 p. m. when it failed to clear a railroad trestle in the 800 block of Red Bluff, police spokesman Vance Mitchell said.

"The load was taller than the railroad trestle and the steel vessel came off the trailer and struck the vehicle," Mitchell said.

The vessel, which was being transported to an area refinery, slipped off the truck as it traveled eastbound while the SUV was going westbound.

The female driver died at the scene, Mitchell said.

The woman's name was being withheld pending notification of family.

Mitchell said no citations were issued to the driver of the pickup.

"It was a freak accident," Mitchell said. "That's what we're calling it until an investigation is done and we can determine otherwise. "

The railroad trestle, which spans across Red Bluff, is not marked with any signs telling drivers how much clearance there is, Mitchell said.

Mitchell said authorities are trying to determine who is responsible for the clearance markings: the city or railroad companies.

Police had not encountered any problems of cargo hitting the railroad trestle prior to Monday.

 

[JDiepstra]

Not that it matters but I wonder what the weight was of an 8 foot by 10 foot steel "vessel" being towed by a pickup. And was it a Cummins!?

 

[Radshooter]

More info here.

abc13.com: Police say victim could not avoid Pasadena traffic accident 2/05/08

 

[Simplysmn]

Not that it matter's but it looks to me like it's a duramax towing that trailer sad to see someone die over a low bridge that should have more sign's then what it has now . and in the clip looks to me like the local popo is passing the buck cause the bridge is private property

 

[JDiepstra]

She shouldn't have been tailgateing the truck.

 

[Radshooter]

She wasn't tailgating. She was traveling in the opposite direction as the trailer. Just happened to be there when the vessel got scrapped off the trailer.

 

[BigPapa]

She shouldn't have been tailgateing the truck.

JD buddy, I'd say you need to get a life. First your "Lighter" thread yesterday and today your saying a 30 year old mother of 2 kids deserves to get killed because she "shouldn't have been tailgating. "

Maybe you missed this part, let me display it for you again...

slipped off the truck as it traveled eastbound while the SUV was going westbound.

I don't know about anybody else but as far as I'm concerned, you're not welcome around here.

Scott

 

[bigkid59]

I really wonder if posting the height clearance would help. There is a railroad trestle about a mile South of my house that crosses a city street. This trestle is plainly marked 12' 6" and is about half a mile from the streets intersection with a Federal highway. The street is plainly marked "NO TRUCKS" near the intersection. A good friend of mine lives on this street about a quarter mile from the trestle and he has witnessed as many as 3 trucks hit this trestle in a single week.

This trestle is on the Canadian National system and The City Of New Orleans train uses this track every day in its run between Chicago and New Orleans. Each time the trestle gets hit a crew must inspect and certify the trestle to be safe. I have been told that between the local fines and the inspection and certification process that the vehicle owner is charged about $10. 000 per hit. So far this has not proven to deter the idiots from ramming their trucks under the trestle.



My thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and her family and friends who lost so much in the terrible tragedy described above.

 

[jelag]

Commercial Drivers, that is those for hire and carry a CDL are required to understand the height of their load and are TAUGHT not to go under a bridge or trestle that is not marked...

If we send someone out on a local delivery we make sure they understand the height of their load... ... .

Even though the bridge was not marked it's still the drivers fault by every standard I've ever seen... hope his insurance is paid up...

 

[CRuth]

Very sad story. Amazing that bridge wasn't marked. Still, the driver should never just have assumed he'd clear.

 

[Kennywould]

Drivers responsibilities, know the height of your load and pay attention to the signs! If in doubt don't do it!

 

[HBarlow]

The photos were too distant and unclear but I couldn't see DOT signs on the driver's truck. I may be and hope I'm wrong.



If he is an outlaw trucker without necessary authority, CDL, logbook, commercial insurance, etc. and also charged with vehicular manslaughter he is in very big trouble. Could be sentenced to a long period in the TX state prison system. He could be charged with vehicular manslaughter regardless if he is legal.



He could be the second victim of this terrible accident.



It is a mistake that any tired driver could make and a fairly common one judging from the marks and damage on older, lower overpass bridges all over the country, particulary if the driver is new or new to that route. I feel very sorry for the poor woman driver and the trucker tonight. We can assume he is in custody in a Pasadena jail.



Harvey

 

[steved]

Same thing happened here about 8 years ago...



A bulldozer blade on a truck hit a bridge, came off, and crushed a car killing the girl driving... the truck driver never knew it "fell off" and they caught up with him in Ohio.



I also saw the aftermath of a steel coil "falling off" a truck in Ohio before... the people in the car never stood a chance... the coil weight nearly 50k and landed squarely on top of the car... it was about 6 inches thick.



steved

 

[Kennywould]

Found this article Police: Driver in fatal SUV-tank wreck didn't heed sign | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle very sad accident!

 

[HBarlow]

Hmmm. This is getting more complicated.



The driver appears to be legal and leased to Ace Transportation. TXDOT issued him a permit allowing maximum height of 14' 9" and he followed his permitted route.



Ultimately, the poor driver caused the crash and resulting death but TXDOT seems to have played a role and should share responsibility.



It would be interesting to learn how this all plays out . . . in the courts I would expect.



Harvey

 

[RVTRKN]

Commercial Drivers, that is those for hire and carry a CDL are required to understand the height of their load and are TAUGHT not to go under a bridge or trestle that is not marked...



If we send someone out on a local delivery we make sure they understand the height of their load... ... .



Even though the bridge was not marked it's still the drivers fault by every standard I've ever seen... hope his insurance is paid up...

With there being a death involved, and if you read the last post with the link provided, he will probably be charged, for he admitted to knowing his height was 14'6" and there was a sign posted 14'1" just before the bridge. The only way the driver is found not to be liable is if he was driving without a CDL legally. It is the responsibility of the driver with a CDL to obey & read all road signs and knows to pay attention when travelling under bridges.



My condolences go out to husband and her children for its a tragic loss that could have been avoided. IMHO I don't think the driver was totally at fault, but is the risk he takes when he drives under a CDL. I'm a CDL holder and I am very aware of this fact that I'm held to a higher standard, even when I'm driving my personal vehicle.

 

[Radshooter]

Are there any laws regarding how close to the bridge a sign needs to be? Somewhere I read the height sign for the trestle was 1200 feet from the bridge. Seems a little far to me, although it would give you time to get stopped before getting to the bridge. Should there have been more signs? Maybe one closer to or actually on the bridge? I don't have a CDL, but try to pay attention to the signs when pulling our fiver.

 

[CBari]

Having had a friend who had a similar accident with a permited load on a permitted route (no death here though). My friend was hauling a wide load boat from eastern Tennesse to the Gulf. DOT routed him through Memphis on I-40. The I-40- I-240 interchange was undergoing construction. They had K rails linning both sides of the ramp. When he hit the ramp his load was picked up by the K-rails and he drove right out from under the boat. The DOT brought their own equipment in to reload the boat back on him. They also paid for all the repairs to the boat.



So yes if he was on his permited route the DOT is responsible, but he is also Liable if it was marked and he knew he was overheight.



It will be hard for them to convinct him of criminal charges, but the civil charges are going to be tough on him.



It sure is a shame that accidents like this happen though. We need to all remind ourselves everytime we get behind the wheel we are only 3foot from death at any given time.

 

[bighammer]

Had a strange thing happen to me just south of Milan MI on US-23 a few years back.

Just starting to pass a semi, I slam on the brakes as he goes under a railroad bridge that's a bit lower than normal. (13' 7" I think) He was pulling a flatbed with a really big round tank on it. The tank itself was OK, but most of the chains caught the bridge, snapped and came swinging off the sides, right where we would've been. He pulled over safely and we continued on.

It was very odd that I suddenly had a sense he wasn't going to make it under...

 

[RVTRKN]

Had a strange thing happen to me just south of Milan MI on US-23 a few years back.



Just starting to pass a semi, I slam on the brakes as he goes under a railroad bridge that's a bit lower than normal. (13' 7" I think) He was pulling a flatbed with a really big round tank on it. The tank itself was OK, but most of the chains caught the bridge, snapped and came swinging off the sides, right where we would've been. He pulled over safely and we continued on.



It was very odd that I suddenly had a sense he wasn't going to make it under...

That should have been sensed by the driver in this story. I wonder why he didn't sense it, I know when I drive through a parking structure with my 4X4 it is a weird feeling with the roof and cement beams just above me, even though I know it made the clearance bar when I entered the structure.