Hidden problems with trucks can spell disaster

Cybergal · May 13, 2007

Hidden problems with trucks can spell disaster
5/12/07

In late December 2006, a trailer hitch weighing five to six pounds escaped from a truck, bounced up and down on one of San Diego's freeways and smashed into the windshield of a sport utility vehicle, tragically killing its 32-year-old driver. Trailer hitches secure a towed vehicle such as a trailer to a truck and, if properly utilized, will not detach.

Most drivers have enough to keep themselves occupied while traveling on a freeway without having the additional worry of being struck by a flying object or facing an obstacle in their path that has escaped from a truck or tractor-trailer. Hazards to safe travel are becoming more common as increased numbers of big rigs use our highways. They include not only detached trailer hitches but other components that have either disintegrated or fallen off a truck, such as wheels, tires, wheel assemblies, brakes, brake drums, mufflers, muffler assemblies and, too often, the loads themselves.
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dsober1 · May 13, 2007

An incident such as this occured just last week in Maryland over the Chesapeake Bay on Route 50/301 Bay Bridge and resulted in 3 deaths

MACK E-6 · May 13, 2007

Yeah, I remember that. As I understand it, a U-Haul trailer detached, and several vehicles had to swerve to miss it. They were running two-way traffic on the west-bound span, so some of those swerving vehicles went into oncoming traffic.

7 vehicles were involved on that mess.

Tip · May 13, 2007

Sounds like a genuis hooked up that U-Haul wagon. Maybe he was one of those guys who can write C++ computer code with his eyes closed but can't even tie his own shoes.

Did the driver of the towing vehicle get charged with negligence?

MACK E-6 · May 13, 2007

Not yet, but I certainly hope he gets that and then some.

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