Posted on 10/13/2018 4:49:14 AM PDT by madison10
A semi-truck driver slammed into a firetruck Thursday evening that was assisting with a car crash on a Virginia Interstate, killing one firefighter and injuring several others. The tractor-trailer was traveling south on Interstate 295 around 9 p.m. when it rammed a firetruck, which was providing aid in a two-car crash in Hanover, Va., the Virginia State Police said in a press release. A Message from Career Builder Lt. Brad Clark died at the scene, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported early Friday, citing authorities. "Please join Hanover County Fire-EMS as we mourn the death of Lieutenant Brad Clark and keep his family and fellow firefighters in your thoughts and prayers," Battalion Chief Gregory Martin said in a press release, according to the paper. Another firefighter was rushed to a nearby hospital for life-threatening injuries, and two others were being treated for serious injuries, according to the press release. The driver of the tractor-trailer had to be “extricated” from his vehicle, and was also being treated for serious injuries, authorities said. The crash is still under investigation, but the Dispatch noted poor driving conditions as Hurricane Michael brought “heavy rain and winds, in addition to some tornadoes,” to the region.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Monster semis hauling more than one trailer and/or too massive to see or navigate around have made driving unpleasant and more dangerous. They eat up roads. It used to be truck drivers were the best drivers; now there are some total idiots in charge of these things. It does seem that lawmakers, both political parties, have no inclination to regulate them.
Driving too fast for existing weather conditions = involuntary manslaughter.
Firetruck only has so much hose, especially if you are the 1st or second one to show up. Ya gotta get at least that close. Probably had at least one bright as hell flashing LED strobe, AND its huge and painted red, not to mention the other firefighters all in breakout gear with reflective tape covering them, oh and a car accident disrupting the normal traffic flow with one of them actively on fire.
If you are asleep and doing governed speed down the interstate, none of that matters.
In Virginia, state law REQUIRES drivers to yield right-of-way (move over to the next lane), or slow down to a crawl if you can't, when approaching "stationary emergency vehicles". Judging from the condition of the truck, the driver didn't slow down, or move over, and hadn't adjusted speed in consideration of the poor driving conditions. Regardless of the weather, there are enough reflective materials and flashing lights on a fire truck to see it.
Agreed.
Effing 295 is one of the safest easiest interstates to drive. F**king truck driver.
Who was the semi driver? Was it some Mexican who doesn’t speak or read English?
I believe your knowledge of truck driving and over the road transportation is a bit out of date.
Truck drivers and their trucks are HIGHLY regulated.
Check out 49 CFR if you really want to know.
This particular driver was probably either impaired or foolish but it was not lack of regulation that caused this accident.
I am rather surprised to find a ‘There ought to be a law’ person on this forum.
From another report of this incident, we find that the driver of the semi was named Lester Labarge, age 49, of California, Maryland. Is that Mexican enough for you?
I’m commenting from what I experience and from what I read. A substantial percentage of accidents and road closings are because a semi was improperly handled. We keep hearing that one reason bridges are in such bad shape is those heavy, speeding trucks. My experience driving is personal. You cannot see around or get around some of those trucks. Surprised a poster would want more regulations? Yes, I want regulations on roads to keep them safe.
Trust me the regulations to keep the roads safe are already out there. More regulations are not the answer.
The problem is that people don’t always follow them.
Some driver wants to make a big paycheck hauling a heavy load but doesn’t have the trailer to handle it takes back roads to avoid the troopers and drives over bridges not built to handle the weight. Those bridges are damaged as are the roads he took.
Just as with fire arms trucks can be deadly in the hands of those who don’t care about the laws and no law can stop them.
You make a good point about semis using roads that weren't built for them. It's gotten pretty common around here, but I have to admit I totally get it. The interstate entrance/exit near here is such a mess that I do the same route they do to avoid it!
Laws, regulations and extreme ‘Just in time’ scheduling force drivers into dark pigeon-holes of unsafe activities if they want to keep their job.
Still under investigation. Firefighter killed was son-in-law of friends from church.
There are additional charges pending for Labarge. It’ll be interesting to see what the additional charges are.
RIP.
So sorry to hear that
They must already know who the driver of the semi is
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