Wrecked 2012 Coronado SD

[mwilson]

I will get you guys some pictures first thing in the morning, this just came in on the hook for the body shop as I was leaving.



Truck was going along loaded (100,000 lbs. ) hooked to a walking floor tri-axle trailer last week. Driver got too close to the ditch (soft right now as we have had a lot of rain), it caught him and pulled him slowly out of the road. Truck came to a culvert, it fetched up quick. In the process he was spit out the right opening where the door used to be and the truck cab landed more or less around him. He was Life Flighted to Boston, some head injurys and a messed up eye socket. Other than that he is Damn lucky to have survived... .



Link to newpaper story, but this little picture does not reflect the damage.

Rockport man hospitalized after tractor-trailer flips on top of him — Mid-Maine — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine



You'll see tomorrow...



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Wow, I'd hate to be that driver and hear what the truck owner has to say (assuming he's a company driver). Looks like the cab is crumpled. I'm interested in seeing the photos.

 

[NIsaacs]

Time for a glider kit.



Nick

 

[mwilson]

Here they are...



As I said, he is lucky to still be alive.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

A few more... .

 

[NIsaacs]

Not that I am a fan of seat belts, but it looks like if he wouldn't have been ejected, he might not have been hurt even. The drivers side looks safe yet.



Nick

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, I agree with your comment about the driver's luck! He destroyed that one.

It looked like a relatively new truck before he parked it in a ditch at highway speed. How many miles on the tractor?

Seat belts are almost always a good idea! Will ME DOT ticket him?

 

[HBarlow]

After another look I realize that the speedometer and tach appear to have remained in the position they were in when it crashed. What do they indicate?

 

[mwilson]

Nick, that was my thought as well, I can't imagine in this day and age that he did not have it on but it is possible.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

After another look I realize that the speedometer and tach appear to have remained in the position they were in when it crashed. What do they indicate?

40 to 50 mph range as I recall. I will look and get an accurate answer next time I go out back.



That may not be an indication as the gauges all sweep when power is applied or removed to the trucks electronics so the batteries might have lost connection at some point and they were simply half-way through the process.

I wonder that as the speedo and tach seem to be at the same position.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Yes, I agree with your comment about the driver's luck! He destroyed that one.



It looked like a relatively new truck before he parked it in a ditch at highway speed. How many miles on the tractor?



Seat belts are almost always a good idea! Will ME DOT ticket him?

That truck has 50,000 miles at the most.



The DOT will probably leave him be as it was the only vehicle involved and the guy has enough to worry about as it is.

I'm sure it will be noted in the accident report paperwork.



The update this morning is that he will lose one eye as the socket is beyond repair and he has lost the use of one side of his body. I am hoping for his sake that it is a result of swelling and is a temporary condition.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

In regards to seatbelt use in trucks...



I did some driving for a chemical transporter (tanker yanker) and if you were caught not wearing your seatbelt you were met with instant dismissal on the spot.

It became a habit for me to buckle up quickly and to this day it does not feel right driving without one.

Previous to that I hardly ever wore one.



The seat belts in the trucks work wery well now, nothing like the ones back in the '80s. They have a device that you snap down onto the shoulder belt after you buckle up that allows some slack so that you are not banging your chest into the belt as the seat and suspension thrash over a rough road.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

This is a sad story. The driver has lost his job and his ability to earn a living in his normal occupation and perhaps even his mobility.

The trucking company has lost a lot of money on insurance deductibles, possibly more, plus the revenue generated by that tractor for several months. I don't know if they will pay the driver's hospital and doctor bills but someone will be expected to or you, the taxpayer of ME, will be paying.

I guess the only good news is the driver didn't pull the truck up out of the ditch and hit a mother and kids in a mini-van head-on.

 

[rbattelle]

How horrible. Was he distracted or sleepy at the time?

-Ryan

 

[mwilson]

How horrible. Was he distracted or sleepy at the time?



-Ryan

First thing in the morning I believe.



I just hope that it was not a result of a nasty habit that I am seeing waaaay too many truck drivers engaging in.



Mike.

 

[rbattelle]

I just hope that it was not a result of a nasty habit that I am seeing waaaay too many truck drivers engaging in.

You can't say that and then not tell us the habit...



-Ryan

 

[Flying_gage]

If I had to guess he is referring to meth or another stimulant. Sadly it is making a comeback. Buy no means sure of that, yet here in the midwest, there is a lot of it...

 

[MChrist]

He may have been hinting at "texting". Maybe not...