Wife of truck driver in bridge collapse says husband has 'impeccable' record

j-mac · Jun 4, 2013

Lord of Planar said:
Wow.

I really don't understand you guys. How about this for evidence, since a picture says a thousand words:

He didn't just clip part of the bridge, he was so far to the right that he was at or near the 12' 6" point for his 15' 9" load. He hit it very solidly.

No way in hell he didn't go out knowing the bridge low point dimensions. Still on him if he didn't.

Everything before your last sentence I can fully agree with....Here is what we know so far, from wiki....

The collapse was apparently caused by a semi-trailer truck from Canada hauling an oversize load to Vancouver, Washington, damaging the compression chord in the overhead steel frame (trusswork) on the southbound side of the bridge.[8]

The vertical clearance from the roadway to the upper arched beam in the outer southbound lane is 14 feet 7 inches (4.45 m), and all trucks with over-sized loads are expected to travel in the inside southbound lane where the clearance is around 17 feet (5.2 m).

The trucker was traveling with a 15 feet 9 inches (4.80 m) tall load, and after the collapse a "dented upper corner and a scrape along the upper side [were] visible on the 'oversize load' equipment casing being hauled on the truck."
[9]

A pilot car was hired to ensure the load could pass safely.

The pilot car never signalled the truck driver that there would be a problem crossing the Skagit bridge.[10]

The truck fully crossed the bridge as it began collapsing, and the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.[11]

There were no fatalities, but three people were transported to local hospitals[12] after being rescued from their cars. The cars remained on the bridge deck after it fell into the water.[13][14]

The trucker, employed by Mullen Trucking, was hauling an over-dimensional load containing a housing for drilling equipment.[15] The company's vice-president, Ed Sherbinski, said permits were issued from Washington State that included clearance for all bridge crossings on the route.[15]

The truck had been led over the bridge by a pilot escort vehicle.[16][17]

A spokesman for the Washington State Department of Transportation said there are no warning signs leading up to the bridge regarding its clearance height.[18]

Only overcrossings of less than 14 feet (4.3 m) (the normal legal height limit) require advance postings of height restrictions.[19]

Investigation[edit]

The truck driver was interviewed by Washington State Patrol detectives and the patrol's commercial vehicle enforcement bureau until 2 a.m. Friday morning.[20]

The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team for further investigation.[21]

Four company inspectors from Mullen Trucking are traveling to Washington to take part in the investigation.[15]

I-5 Skagit River Bridge collapse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I highlighted the relevant parts of this so far....And to this point the WSP didn't feel that the driver was at fault enough to hold him, and I would add that there is a couple of things that so far you have ignored...Such as

A pilot car company, with a lead car was hired and never signaled that the right lane was too short.

The low side of the bridge were not posted, and should have been according to DOT...

The truck after striking the bridge made it to the other side before collapse.

And one more thing that we know is that the bridge itself was declared as "structurally obsolete" So why the DOT approved the route is beyond me....As you pointed out, there is another bridge just to the west. So, although the driver is at fault for not protecting his load, and hitting the bridge, he is NOT the only one to look at here. And your continued harping on only the driver shows the disdain you have for those of us that deliver your goods, and make your life easier....

j-mac · Jun 4, 2013

dirtpoorchris said:
He was in the correct lane up until he got almost all the way across the bridge. Then for WHATEVER reason he obviously veered to his right and clipped the part of the overhead suspension that is lower. Locally I never even heard of the "2nd" truck and the news leaves it open ended and a possibility if you read the words carefully. But the news also says rescue got there in 10 minutes and saved people when in fact they got there MUCH later and the people saved themselves. If they can lie about the rescue operation why cant they lie about "2nd truck" for whatever reason. How could he be in the correct lane all the way until the end and then suddenly "another truck wouldnt yeild right of way" shoving him out of the good lane?

To me this doesnt make much sense.

Sounds to me like he wasn't fully in the left lane, as he should have been, and the other truck tried to force its way past him, like a dumb assed 4 wheeler.

Crosscheck · Jun 4, 2013

j-mac said:
And your continued harping on only the driver shows the disdain you have for those of us that deliver your goods, and make your life easier....

Saying that one truck driver may have some fault in this incident is not meant that all truck drivers are irresponsible. I don't think anyone lumping all drivers in the same basket.

I think that is true of almost groups of people. Then after that post you go ahead and lump all four wheel drivers as you did in your very next posting:

j-mac said:
j-mac said:

like a dumb assed 4 wheeler.

Click to expand...

Jerry · Jun 4, 2013

Crosscheck said:
I think that is true of almost groups of people. Then after that post you go ahead and lump all four wheel drivers as you did in your very next posting:

On that note:

[NSFW]
Language.

From the video:

Warning Vid is long and you may hate the song. It is mostly about an idiot in a big hurry to go nowhere fast. What the green SUV starting at 0:30. And yes I know I shouldn't yell out the window, but dealing with some people everyday sometimes I just can't help myself. this vid was taken on friday 7/27/2012 about 4pm normal traffic for this time.

Lord of Planar · Jun 5, 2013

dirtpoorchris said:
He was in the correct lane up until he got almost all the way across the bridge.

That is flat out not true. I don't know who you are listening to, but he was traveling south, and it was the first span of four that collapsed.

j-mac · Jun 5, 2013

Jerry said:
On that note:

[NSFW]
Language.

From the video:

Excellent video Jerry....These are the types of people that we have to deal with every day....And the sad thing is that it is people like that who read a story about this incident and think they absolutely know for a certainty that the driver of the truck was at fault, alone, just him. I'd say that not everyone thinks like that, but it sure is easy to tell who automatically blames the truck for any accident isn't it?

j-mac · Jun 5, 2013

Crosscheck said:
Saying that one truck driver may have some fault in this incident is not meant that all truck drivers are irresponsible. I don't think anyone lumping all drivers in the same basket.

I think that is true of almost groups of people. Then after that post you go ahead and lump all four wheel drivers as you did in your very next posting:

I see what you mean, but after some 22 years of driving nearly every road in this country, I can tell you that most 4 wheelers are out there distracted driving, in a hurry, road raged, oblivious, etc. And when they do something stupid that causes an accident they instantly think it is the other guy's fault....Generally, people don't drive like they are hurling a ton of steel down the road at 65 mph, and they certainly don't think about that truck they are cutting off that is carrying 40 times their weight.

j-mac · Jun 5, 2013

Lord of Planar said:
That is flat out not true. I don't know who you are listening to, but he was traveling south, and it was the first span of four that collapsed.

Not saying you're wrong, but I didn't see that part....I thought it was near the end of the span also...You could be right though...Still doesn't make you correct that it is 100% the drivers fault.

Crosscheck · Jun 5, 2013

j-mac said:
Excellent video Jerry....These are the types of people that we have to deal with every day....And the sad thing is that it is people like that who read a story about this incident and think they absolutely know for a certainty that the driver of the truck was at fault, alone, just him. I'd say that not everyone thinks like that, but it sure is easy to tell who automatically blames the truck for any accident isn't it?

We in cars and four wheelers deal with those same people too. I do not see your claim that anytime a truck is involved it is his fault. But I am also not so naive to believe it is never the truck drivers fault. If I wanted to spend some time on You Tube am certain I could find some videos of a trucker running people off the road as well.

I do not drive a truck but my own grandfather had a trucking firm so I have quite respect for truckers. When a truck passes me I will flash my lights to let him know he is clear to get back over. Am always willing to stay back from intersection to allow a trucker to have ample turning space. On that same hand I see those drivers you talk about who don't have a clue about a truck needing a wider turning space.

My point was your attempt to put all four wheelers in a group of assshole drivers.

j-mac · Jun 5, 2013

Crosscheck said:
We in cars and four wheelers deal with those same people too. I do not see your claim that anytime a truck is involved it is his fault. But I am also not so naive to believe it is never the truck drivers fault. If I wanted to spend some time on You Tube am certain I could find some videos of a trucker running people off the road as well.

I do not drive a truck but my own grandfather had a trucking firm so I have quite respect for truckers. When a truck passes me I will flash my lights to let him know he is clear to get back over. Am always willing to stay back from intersection to allow a trucker to have ample turning space. On that same hand I see those drivers you talk about who don't have a clue about a truck needing a wider turning space.

My point was your attempt to put all four wheelers in a group of assshole drivers.

I understand, and I thought I had revised my first generalization to a less general pronouncement. That you display a charity on the road to truckers is appreciated, and I do get your point about truckers out there that absolutely should not be behind the wheel either. Believe me when I say when there is an asshole trucker out there, I, and many others are on the CB bitching at him in no uncertain terms.

The problem on that could spark its own thread, but let's just say that because of regulation, and low pay for what is expected, there is a severe shortage of truckers, studies place it somewhere around 50 thousand truckers per year short...As a consequence, you are going to see more, and more newbies straight out of mom's family crusier, or their VW, in the seat of 40 tons of steel, that needs several football fields to stop in an emergency....

Higgins86 · Jun 5, 2013

how has this racked up 21 pages....

apdst · Jun 5, 2013

Jerry said:
Because someone (you) on the internet said so? You expect me to believe just whatever I read online?

Imagine me talking to someone in real life about this...I assert that the driver was at fault, the real person in front of me asks how I know, and I say "because someone online told me".

Yeah ****ing right. I wasn't born yesterday bro.

Links to evidence are all that matters.

On the permit it clearly states that the states assumes no responsibility.

apdst · Jun 5, 2013

Jerry said:
Because someone (you) on the internet said so? You expect me to believe just whatever I read online?

Imagine me talking to someone in real life about this...I assert that the driver was at fault, the real person in front of me asks how I know, and I say "because someone online told me".

Yeah ****ing right. I wasn't born yesterday bro.

Links to evidence are all that matters.

The permit office clearly puts the responsibility on the driver.

Bridge collapse: Oversize-load permits easy to get online | Local News | The Seattle Times

Jerry · Jun 5, 2013

apdst said:
On the permit it clearly states that the states assumes no responsibility.

A trucker cannot be responsible for the condition of a bridge, that it falls when struck.

Jerry · Jun 5, 2013

apdst said:
The permit office clearly puts the responsibility on the driver.

Bridge collapse: Oversize-load permits easy to get online | Local News | The Seattle Times

Did the permit stipulate the condition of the bridge?

apdst · Jun 5, 2013

Jerry said:
A trucker cannot be responsible for the condition of a bridge, that it falls when struck.

No, but he's damn sure responsible for hitting it. Why did the bridge fall? Because the driver hit it.

apdst · Jun 5, 2013

Jerry said:
Did the permit stipulate the condition of the bridge?

I'm so certain I'm right, that I'm waiting, as I type to get fired because I'm not going to haul an unlawful oversized load.

Jerry · Jun 5, 2013

apdst said:
Why did the bridge fall? Because the driver hit it.

That's just not true. The bridge fell because it wasn't maintained. Trucks hit bridges all the time, they don't fall.

Jerry · Jun 5, 2013

apdst said:
I'm so certain I'm right, that I'm waiting, as I type to get fired because I'm not going to haul an unlawful oversized load.

What was unlawful about the load that hit this bridge?

apdst · Jun 5, 2013

Jerry said:
What was unlawful about the load that hit this bridge?

It was too tall for the lane he was in.

Jerry · Jun 5, 2013

apdst said:
It was too tall for the lane he was in.

That's not the load. That's the driver. What about the load was unlawful?

apdst · Jun 5, 2013

Jerry said:
That's not the load. That's the driver. What about the load was unlawful?

I didn't say it was unlawful.

Jerry · Jun 5, 2013

apdst said:
I didn't say it was unlawful.

Yes you did. In post 217 you compared yourself to that driver, that you refused an unlawful load, thereby meaning this driver who hit the bridge was hauling an unlawful load.

What was unlawful about this load, that the driver who hit the bridge should have refused to haul it at all in the first place, as you are doing with your employer now?

Jerry · Jun 5, 2013

I've been looking at a couple trucker forums and their general opinion is that the pilot car was to close and either didn't have time to radio back a clearance problem, or there was a problem with the poll which didn't signal a clearance problem at all.

apdst · Jun 5, 2013

Jerry said:
Yes you did. In post 217 you compared yourself to that driver, that you refused an unlawful load, thereby meaning this driver who hit the bridge was hauling an unlawful load.

What was unlawful about this load, that the driver who hit the bridge should have refused to haul it at all in the first place, as you are doing with your employer now?

My point, is that the driver is responsible. In my situation, my boss is going to want me to haul an unlawful oversize load. I can't get on the road, something go wrong, then say my boss made me do it. Why? Becsuse the driver is responsible. Soon as I say yes, I assume 100% of the tesponsibility for anything that goes wrong.