Comments on: One Seriously Injured When Semi Hits Peanut Combine

By: rolltide6275

rolltide6275 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 18:07:41 +0000

I live right there where the accident happened. it was pretty bad! thank God no one was killed! but people HAVE to be more careful there at that spot! there is a curve there – to me, a DANGEROUS curve, right there! people have GOT to start slowing down right there. i see people FLYING around that curve and it’s just not safe! my son will be driving on his own in a week (turning 16). and it watching people fly around that curve that scares me for him to be on the road! PLEASE PEOPLE, JUST BE MORE CAREFUL!!!

By: Bert Dixon

Bert Dixon — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 08:31:05 +0000

Hang in there Dexter, we’re pulling for you brother!

By: Bonnie Hunter

Bonnie Hunter — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 04:33:30 +0000

Dexter is my husband, I do know for sure he had flashers and they were functioning. He is a very particular maticulous person. Let me remind all it was an accident, this is why they r called such. Our lives r real this is all to real. I could have lost my best friend and the love of my life. We r a farm family this is how we survive don’t pass such quick uneducated judgements remember the next time u go to get food men & women like us put it food in your belly. Harvest doesn’t end many times at dark but goes on very long hours to get crops in. It was just that way Friday with a forecast of rain and dug peanuts to be lost Dexter was helping a fellow farmer get them in, remember this is what the Bible tells us to do. My son is very upset about the flasher issues because he put one of the flashers on in the center of the slow moving triangle which was surrounded by reflector tape. There were also flashers on the tractor going. I was going up the road and had to see my husband at the scene of the ACCIDENT it was no place he or I choose to be. He just wanted me to take him home. He celebrated his birthday last Sunday and that should have been his last but GOD yes God is able to keep he kept my husband and the driver truck, God is good. If u will please just pray for him, he nor I asked for this but here we r.

By: JoanY

JoanY — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 03:05:39 +0000

With all due respect to s presley, I cannot tell you the number of times I have had big rigs suddenly move over on me simply because they didn’t want to be stuck behind another big rig going slower than they were, only then to be behind the two big rigs riding side by side down the interstate for miles at 10-15 mph below the speed limit because the rig in front of me couldn’t muster up the speed to actually pass the “slower” rig. Apparently they don’t feel they have to slow down for anyone but it’s ok for them to slow down both lanes of traffic to gain a mile or two an hour over the other rig. As it relates to this story, I suppose it would have been too much to ask that the big rig actually slow down for a bit and follow the tractor until a safe opportunity presented itself to pass. This poor farmer, possibly, may not have good health insurance, if any at all. Since it was a rear-end collision, I think the truck driver ought to be held responsible, at the very least, for Mr. Hunter’s medical bills and whatever expenses he incurs to run his farm until he’s back on his feet. Lastly, I personally question the ability of a 70 year old driving a big rig, man or woman. Just my own opinion, everyone!

By: Royce & Marilyn Schneider

Royce & Marilyn Schneider — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 02:06:43 +0000

Sorry to hear of Dexter’s accident! Our prayers and best wishes for him and family.

By: nEWYORK 37

nEWYORK 37 — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 14:00:33 +0000

@M… YES HE HAD HIS SAFETY FLASHERS ON, MULTIPLE PLEASE HAD SEEN THE FLASHERS ONE OF THE WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT HAD STATED THEY HAD SEEN THE FLASHERS FROM BEHIND THE BIG RIG THAT HIT DEXTER!!!. NOW IF OTHER FOLKS SAW HIM AND HIS LIGHTS WHY NOT THE WOMAN DRIVEING THE BIG RIG? I KNOW WE ALL NEED TO ADHERE TO SAFETY STANDARDS BUT AS A BIG RIG DRIVER SHE IS HELD TO A HIGHER SAFETY STANDARD THAN MOST, I DROVE A BUS FOR A WHILE AND I KNOW THE SAFETY SYSTEM FOR WHICH THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE BY AND SHE WAS NOT ADHERING TO THE SMITH DRIVING SYSTEM .( PEOPLE WHO DRIVER BIG RIGS OR BUSES WILL KNOW THIS SYSTEM). SHE IS AT FAULT AND I HOPE THAT SOMEONE WILL HOLD HER REPONSIBLE. I HATE THIS HAPPEN TO ANYONE BUT SOMEONE AS NICE AND SWEET AS DEXTER TRYING TO MAKE AN HONEST LIVING AND THIS LADY OBVIOUSLY NOT PAYING ATTENTION.. JUST SAD.. WELL THAT HELPED MY BLOOD PRESSURE SOME .

By: niknak50

niknak50 — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 13:50:12 +0000

Before jumping to conclusions and condemming the truck driver, here are some questions I have .

1. Did this happen after dark? If so did the combine have any DOT reflective tape on the rear, which can be easily seen for more than a half mile in the dark?

2. I know wide loads cannot be on the roads after dark, what about slow moving unmarked equipment?

3. I have lived in this area many years, and have personally seen non-marked farm equipment on the roads after dark. I have even seen a combine with a 6-row corn header coming across the old Escambia river bridges BEFORE sunup!
(Resulting in an accident)

4. High visibility tape and reflectors on the back of all farm equipment, (i.e. wagons, pickers, combines & tractors) ought to be required by law,( if not already), and strictly enforced. Who knows, the life that’s saved might be the farmers own.

By: M

Sun, 22 Sep 2013 13:39:29 +0000

This is a terrible tragedy, and my prayers go out to this farmer and his family. But I do disagree with the comments here that seem almost eager to blame the truck driver. The obvious questions I would want answers to before I would pass judgement on this truck driver are; It was at night, did the combine have adequate lights and warning devices? Again, considering twilight or darkness, shouldn’t farmers consider utilizing a well lit escort vehicle when it becomes necessary to move a piece of farm equipment under these conditions? The State requires all oversize loads to adhere to some basic safety rules, but give farm equipment a pass. I wouldn’t want to advocate making farm equipment adhere to the same rules that apply to other oversize loads, but some basic safety precautions should prevail.

By: jackie

jackie — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 12:10:06 +0000

This was an accident, one that could have been a lot worse, Thank the Lord that Mr. Hunters injuries were not any worse than what they are. Accidents happen, they can happen to any of us.

By: D Hall

D Hall — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 11:50:43 +0000

I’ve driven “big trucks” (retired now) , I’ve seen farm stuff on the hwy an get over or slow down when I see them (even in my car) to give them room – What is the problem he didn’t SEE the combine in front of him. Some people have the idea that the hwy belongs to them & you better not get in their way. I still get over or slow down when I see someone fixin’ a tire / a policeman on the shoulder / a wrecker driver or a fire/rescue truck > > LETS SHARE THE ROAD PEOPLE …