Comments on: Dump Truck Driver Runs Red Light, Crashes, Overturns

By: Vickie

Vickie — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:20:41 +0000

I think those of you that have not driven a dump truck or an 18 wheeler should not be critizing the driver of the dump truck. We own 3 18 wheelers of our own, and we were in the intersection when it happened. He did not deliberately fail to stop at a red light. His brakes went out. My hat goes off to him for handling the situation the best that he did because of his knowledge of handling such a truck he avoided hitting her directly in the side which would have killed her on impact. I credit him for her safety. Him and the grace of god that was with her and us as the accident happened. It should have been us that he hit, but our passenger in the back seat yelled stop! he cant stop his truck. We slammed on brakes and the lady in the lane next to us did not see him because we were in her way! The lady has now become my friend since I did stay with her till her son could get there so i know that she is doing fine.

By: mommy2beautifulgirls

mommy2beautifulgirls — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:07:30 +0000

i definitely agree with m.weaver in this situation,i live off of hwy 97 and them trucks they pass through molino highways running me over,and i’d be going maybe 60 mph…that’s ridicules,hope it will get better soon before something terrible happens

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:35:24 +0000

I was in front of this wreck (about to turn off Kingsfield) to head South on Hwy 29. The truck driver was blowing his horn well before he struck the lady’s car or flipped over. I don’t think she heard him. I am thankful she stopped her car when she did or he would have flipped over on top of her. He was not speeding through the light. Like someone (BD) said above he was only going about 5-10 miles an hour when he hit her, and then over corrected then flipped. I thought he was going to hit me! I am so glad he WAS paying attention, it could have been fatal.

By: Mike Key

Mike Key — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:30:38 +0000

As a truck driver myself for eight years, I have to agree with those who say something must be done. It used to be only a minority of drivers that gave the rest of us a bad name but more and more each day it is becoming the majority. I do get paid by the hour and the result (clean driving record) speaks for itself. Also, I wish DOT would concentrate more on moving violations rather than constantly pulling trucks over for a non-working side marker, a placard not located in the proper place and such. This, in fact, only adds to the problem because it puts those hurried drivers behind. Even though I carry a libertarian attitude towards things, public roadways are a necessity that should be governed and enforced by certain rules. There are some rules (speeding, etc.) that deserve more attention than others due to public safety. Lately, it seems authority’s have forgotten this.

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:07:36 +0000

Last week I witnessed a dump truck headed East on Hwy 90. The light was red @ Copter Road and he came barreling up to the red light burning rubber in order to keep from rear ending the truck in front of him. Something needs to be done with this truck drivers before someone dies.

By: Residente'

Residente' — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:59:33 +0000

As a person that worked for a construction company and now in the insurance business, these drivers need to be cut a little slack! I have never personally drove one of the trucks but I know how hard they are to handle and maintain. No excuse for accidents, that’s why they are called accidents but many times it’s the other drivers on the roadway that cause the problems. I’ve seen load trucks being tailgated, passed and many other things. I agree completely that something needs to be done more about the trucks that do fly up and down the roads. I live off of Muscogee road in Cantonment and some of the 18-wheelers fly down that road and I’ve been scared many times by them. It’s those kind of drivers that make all the other guys look bad! It’s a sad situation and I’m glad this wreck was not as bad as it could have been!

By: BRATT MOM

BRATT MOM — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:22:27 +0000

just want to say i seen this reck, happened right before my eyes, scared me and my kids to death however i did not realize that the dump truck ran the red light, i thought it was the other way around. glad both are ok.

By: BD

BD — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:11:36 +0000

I was 3 vehicals behind this driver and it looked like he tried to stop but couldn’t. It was a dump truck with a full load of sand. When he realised his breaks did not function he swerved left into the turn lane that was vacant. He tried to miss a small car in the center and in so doing cut the wheel hard left which caused the truck to tip over. It was all in slow motion no more than 5-10 MPH. I have heard it is important to adjust brakes on material turcks often. The driver appeared to have done all he could to avaoid a collision.

By: M.WEAVER

M.WEAVER — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:33:51 +0000

THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THE HIGH RATE OF SPEED DRIVEN BY THESE COMMERICIAL TRUCKS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. ON HIGHWAY 95-A IN MOLINO AND HIGHWAY 97 THEY ARE OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN PASSED WHILE WAITING ON THE SCHOOL BUS TO PICK UP OR DROP OFF KIDS.MULTIPLE CALLS TO SHERRIFF AND FHP AND DOT HAVE DONE NO GOOD.95-A HAS A 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND MOST TRAFFIC RUNS AROUND 60 MPH.

By: N

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:03:57 +0000

One of the major problems with the dirt/ sand & gravel/ pulp wood trucks is that most of the drivers are paid by the load. More loads=more pay. The motivation is to hurry hurry hurry and run another load. We are going to have a super bad wreck here one day and people will ask why wasn’t some thing done to slow them down. I have been passed on h’way 97 a number of time on section of the road where the drivers could not see around a hill or curb. The worse was being passed in the north bound turn lane at the school while heading south. The FHP, DOT and SO do the best they can but are spread to thin.