Posted on 02/05/2012 6:13:48 AM PST by John W
It is with heavy hearts that we report to you storm chaser Andy Gabrielson died in a car accident Saturday near Tulsa, Okla. On his way home from a storm chase in Texas over the last few days, Gabrielson was involved in a head-on collision in the town of Sapulpa, which was confirmed by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. George Brown said a wrong-way driver struck a vehicle head-on, westbound in the eastbound traffic lane. Another person was killed in the collision that involved four cars total.
According to WFAA in Dallas, fellow chasers on the Spotter Network planned to turn on their GPS devices to light up the map in honor of Gabrielson's passing.
Born in 1987, Gabrielson was among several chasers who accompanied Mike Bettes and crew on The Weather Channel's Tornado Hunt, and was a frequent contributor to severe weather coverage on our network.
"Andy was a new breed of storm chaser that pushed the limits of what any of us thought was possible. He inspired an entire generation of chasers to pursue their passion," said Bettes.
(Excerpt) Read more at weather.com ...
Advice from a California Highway Patrol officer on a talk show. The drunks get onto the 4-lane highway via an off ramp, thus going the wrong way. They think they are on a two-lane road and stay to the right and usually with headlights off. you never see them coming.
Query - Was Gabrielson the wrong-way Driver that caused the crash??
The article seemed awfully careful to skirt the details of the accident...
On the eastern portions of Interstate 8 (runs San Diego east into Arizona), it’s fairly routine for smugglers to purposely run their vehicles the wrong way....eludes capture.
Was the other driver an illegal? This seems to be a horribly repetitive theme. It would explain the information blackout.
RIP Mr. Gabrielson.
A truck had gone into the median from the other side.
He came up on my side but I didn't see him until I was right at his bumper.
I had moved into the outside lane earlier, and would have hit him head-on if I had been in the left lane.
It was just stated on the Weather Channel that he was hit by a wrong way driver.
He doesn’t seem to be paying attention to the road in that photo...
Yeah, I agree. It’s very badly written.
that no one, in bad weather; or just 'rain'; should ever; put on their 'blinkers' while driving on 'road'. Please; do NOT do this. This on-road use of blinkers, against the law, actually; but many seem to think; they know better. When this MO eliminates all 'safe harbor' per getting of road in bad conditions - and where you DO put your blinkers on; so that other will know; you are in fact, 'OFF road'.
(Drivers using blinkers while moving; eliminate all safe escape options. A person who pulls to 'off road' or 'side of'; with 'blinkers' appropriately on; could just as easily have another car, ride right over them; thinking they were just following the 'blinking tail lights'.)
Forget the 'flashers' and use them only as legally advised. "OFF road'; and NEVER, when moving down the highway. Particularly and worst; in bad weather conditions.
Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. George Brown said a wrong-way driver of a white pickup truck traveling westbound struck Gabrielson’s oft-seen black Chevrolet Tahoe head-on in the eastbound traffic lane. Another person was killed in the collision.
A 15 photo spread of the accident scene is at the following link. His Tahoe was destroyed with the entire front end torn off.
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/storm-chaser-138721544.html?gallery=y&c=y
An example would be a truck entering the highway where the entrance is on a steep uphill grade.
It is also good practice on really steep uphill mountain grades where speed is reduced to half of the rest of the traffic.
VIDEOS
Tipton Oklahoma Tornado and Storm Chaser Car Rolls Over 11-7-2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FY4glJCmvs
Chazz Bono, storm chaser!
Wide load vehicles and the chase trucks use blinkers all the time. When you are stopped or travelling dead slow, it is best to put them on to alert other drivers that you are not traveling at a normal speed. AFAIK it is only illegal to use the blinkers when traveling at normal speeds or when traveling FASTER than the posted speed limit.
It is very unclear what happened in this case however
According to the story at the first link, alcohol is suspected as a factor (presumably meaning the wrong-way driver). Gabrielson was two weeks short of 25 years old and leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.