Stark reality of speed and sway

Flyrotor · 03-15-2021, 11:06 PM

This accident happened today in Idaho. Excessive speed, sway, and load mis-management each played a part in this accident. Luckily my rescue team was fortunate enough to rescue both occupants and 2 dogs from this crash.

This F350 single rear wheel truck was equipped with a Reese WDH with a sway bar, but he also had a rack on the back with a large generator, spare tire, firewood, and other camping gear on a Curt receiver hitch cargo rack.

The skid marks told the story, with evidence of multiple sway action as he entered a curve on the interstate, which in Idaho has a speed limit of 80 mph. The trailer overtook the truck, causing it to Jack knife, the trailer contacted the right Jersey barrier, and pushed the truck over the left Jersey barrier and over the side of the bridge. The trailer ball was pulled out of the hitch and the truck was dangling dangerously by only one remaining safety chain until emergency crews arrived and secured it with 3 heavy chains to a semi truck who happened to be right behind the accident. The bridge crosses a deep, narrow gorge (approximately 150 feet deep), which had the single remaining chain failed, the truck would have plummeted to the bottom.

In December a similar accident happened in our region where a 1/2 ton truck slid on an icy curve and plummeted 280 feet, killing a father and son. In that incident the complete receiver hitch failed tearing free from the truck, the trailer was approximately 32-34 feet long, again probably over the truck’s recommend capacity.

Reality strikes when load limits are not followed! Please stop asking if my truck can pull my trailer. Please follow the recommendations and KNOW your truck and trailer are a good match, and slow down!

**JFlightRisk** · 03-15-2021, 11:38 PM

They're very lucky to be alive.

Marcm157 · 03-16-2021, 04:26 AM

Wow! I've investigated accidents for 27 years and never saw one like this. Very lucky family for sure...

cbeers · 03-16-2021, 06:28 AM

Glad everyone survived. God was watching over them that day!

craigav · 03-16-2021, 08:19 AM

WOW... Not much else I can say except that they were very fortunate not to have died in that accident. ~CA

Route 66 Traveler · 03-16-2021, 08:40 AM

Lucky people...and dogs! Just a reminder that quick control of sway is paramount...use your manual trailer brakes, foot off the throttle, then use the tow vehicle brakes when the sway has stopped. Slamming on the brakes will lead to disaster during a swaying event.

Rustic Eagle · 03-16-2021, 09:39 AM

Scary..., only one remaining safety chain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyrotor

snip.......Reality strikes when load limits are not followed! Please stop asking if my truck can pull my trailer. Please follow the recommendations and KNOW your truck and trailer are a good match, and slow down!

X2

Bob

Scott_Trailer_Newbe · 03-16-2021, 11:40 AM

In our travels I see many scary truck-trailer combinations and I always wonder what is the driver thinking? NOT loading up a travel trailer in the rear is towing 101 in my opinion. Having more truck than you need is great, but more often than not, the trailer will still weigh more than the truck when going down the road, so when you get out of control and fail to hit the trailer breaks, you will more than likely will be going for a ride.

Glad they made it out ok.

DocBrown · 03-16-2021, 11:49 AM

Unfortunately there are a lot of people out there that just think they can hook up and go, and go fast.

ttavasc · 03-16-2021, 08:30 PM

We've seen a number of bad RV crashes in our travels as well but nothing like this. Glad to see that everyone made it out of this one alive.

Flyrotor - fabulous work that good folks like you do. We'll be passing through that stretch of I-84 this weekend and back again the following weekend. Nice to know your crew is ready and able if needed.

Flyrotor · 03-16-2021, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttavasc

We've seen a number of bad RV crashes in our travels as well but nothing like this. Glad to see that everyone made it out of this one alive.

Flyrotor - fabulous work that good folks like you do. We'll be passing through that stretch of I-84 this weekend and back again the following weekend. Nice to know your crew is ready and able if needed.

Thanks, incidents like this create great memories, but the reason involves the magnitude of teamwork involved to pull this off, and the positive outcome for those involved in the accident. Hopefully we never meet by accident, but I’d gladly meet anyone passing through the area and share stories over a beer!

Flyrotor · 03-16-2021, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott_Trailer_Newbe

Glad they made it out ok.

Absolutely, thanks

Flyrotor · 03-16-2021, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbeers

Glad everyone survived. God was watching over them that day!

Yes, will make a believer real quick!

Flyrotor · 03-16-2021, 09:17 PM

Thanks for all the positive feedback for my post, we as a team are truly grateful for the outcome, this was a death defying event for the victims, and a calculated risk in providing the much needed rescue, I work with a highly trained team, very proud to be their leader!

ttavasc · 03-16-2021, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyrotor

Thanks, incidents like this create great memories, but the reason involves the magnitude of teamwork involved to pull this off, and the positive outcome for those involved in the accident. Hopefully we never meet by accident, but I’d gladly meet anyone passing through the area and share stories over a beer!

I'll keep that in mind as we come through there several times a year on our way to/from meeting up with our youngest daughter who lives in Arizona. Plus, a close coworker of mine for the last 21 years retired and moved onto some acreage by the Snake River in Buhl late last year so we want to check that out too. And we love the various National/State parks and Forest Service campgrounds that we've spent time at - most recently close to a week at Scout Mountain late last fall. Pretty much had the campground to ourselves except for the morning Moose crew.......

Flyrotor · 03-16-2021, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttavasc

I'll keep that in mind as we come through there several times a year on our way to/from meeting up with our youngest daughter who lives in Arizona. Plus, a close coworker of mine for the last 21 years retired and moved onto some acreage by the Snake River in Buhl late last year so we want to check that out too. And we love the various National/State parks and Forest Service campgrounds that we've spent time at - most recently close to a week at Scout Mountain late last fall. Pretty much had the campground to ourselves except for the morning Moose crew.......

Awesome!

LuckyDuck · 03-16-2021, 11:13 PM

Flyrotor: thank you for the compelling firsthand account and great reminders about safe towing. And thanks to you and your team for ensuring a safe outcome for these folks (and their pooches). It’s comforting, as we travel, to know teams like yours are trained and ready should disaster happen (God forbid).

Flyrotor · 03-16-2021, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

Flyrotor: thank you for the compelling firsthand account and great reminders about safe towing. And thanks to you and your team for ensuring a safe outcome for these folks (and their pooches). It’s comforting, as we travel, to know teams like yours are trained and ready should disaster happen (God forbid).

Thank you!

Lake Havasu · 03-20-2021, 12:42 PM

We don't need idiot snowbirds in Arizona like this family. Lucky they survived let alone hurt some innocent people!

salsa · 03-20-2021, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lake Havasu

We don't need idiot snowbirds in Arizona like this family. Lucky they survived let alone hurt some innocent people!

Flyrotor, I am from Twin Falls, Id. I have been following this wreck closely. I drive that part of I 84 five or six times a year. I am proud that we have people like you in area. Keep up the good work, Thanks.

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