Did I really just see that?

Today I witnessed what may have been the dumbest thing I've ever seen a driver do, trucker or otherwise. I was stopped at a red light at a big intersection. The left turn light for the cross traffic turned green and the cars started through. Back about 5 cars was a big rig and just as he was getting to the intersection, the light changed and he came to an quick stop.

After the traffic going straight (opposite the truckers direction) was brought to a halt, this trucker pulls out into the intersection (his left turn light was still red) and proceeds to do a u-turn. First, while a fairly large intersection, this was not a smart place for a truck to attempt a u-turn and it required him putting the trailer at least 90 degrees to the tractor. As I'm watching him barely make the turn with the tractor, I notice that his tandems are going to be going over the median, almost taking out a sign.

Keep in mind, this was on a red-light, a major violation in and of itself. As he's almost completing his absurd illegal turn, I hear several vehicles start honking their horns frantically. Then I see what the fuss was all about. The rear of this guys trailer swung into the adjacent lane (cars waiting in the lane next to him) and tore off most of the driver's side of some girls small car (she is visibly shaken at this point). The driver apparently finally realizes what he has done and comes to a stop, blocking all traffic trying to get through the light that has now turned green for me and everyone going in my direction.

I don't know what the driver was thinking. I don't know if he was frustrated or upset about something and just made a really poor judgement call, or what. I can't understand what would have made him go on a red turn signal, especially after he had come to stop when he initially missed it and it turned red. I was thinking to myself how screwed this guy is going to be in his career. Then I realized he must have been an o/o because I didn't recognize or even pay that much attention to what was on his tractor and his trailer was a lease.

That got me to wondering what difference it might make for him being an o/o vs. a company driver. Will it impact him and his career less? Also, this looked like something a newbie would do, not someone who is o/o and obviously has been around the block (although apparently not this particular block!).

 

First, it happened so fast, no one could have stopped him or even guessed what he was about to do. Second, I was on my motorcycle, no CB and too far away (about 5 car lengths) to have made any difference in time. He had plenty of people honking at him, but by the time he realized the honking was for him, it was too late. Or perhaps he thought people were honking because his light was red.

 

I don't KNOW that he was an o/o... it just didn't look like a company rig, especially with the leased trailer (it wasn't an xtra lease, but it was similar with another trailer leasing company), but you're right, he very well may have been a rookie company driver.