Two rollovers... within five miles of each other

**road_runner** · 08.27.2012

In two separate incidents in as many days, trainee drivers for trucking company C.R. England were involved in tractor-trailer rollovers on Interstate 90 near Belgrade.

In both cases, no other vehicles were involved, and no one was seriously injured in either wreck.

At about 4:40 a.m. Saturday, a trainee was driving a rig carrying 44,000 pounds of frozen potato products went off the interstate and into the median between Baker and Camp creeks, said Montana Highway Patrol Trooper James McMartin. The truck then rolled onto its driver's side and slid 40 yards.

The driver was far enough into his training to drive alone, but his trainer was in the truck's sleeping bunk when the accident happened.

A refrigerated truck from Best Rate Towing and Repair helped salvage the potatoes, and the scene was cleared up by 2 p.m.

Then, at about 5:45 a.m. Sunday, another driver training for the company went into the median near Belgrade. This time, the truck was hauling 42,000 pounds of frozen corn packages.

The driver's trainer was in the passenger seat and had told the trainee to slow down to avoid the accident, to no avail, McMartin said.

After entering the median, the inexperienced driver tried to get back on the road, began fishtailing and almost jack-knifed before flipping the rig onto its passenger side, clipping an electrical pole, blocking Exit 298 to Belgrade and igniting a small brush fire.

The fire was put out quickly, but the exit remained blocked until just after 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon after MCM towing company reloaded the perishable corn onto a refrigerated truck.

“With both accidents, there were no injuries other than scrapes and bruises,” McMartin said. “And I must say, both towing companies did a phenomenal job. The frozen products were all salvaged.”

According to the company’s website, C.R. England is the nation’s largest refrigerated trucking company and has been in business more than 90 years. It operates five truck-driving schools across the country and on-the-job training for student drivers

**road_runner** · 08.27.2012

Pictures of one of the accident here: http://www.kbzk.com/news/semi-crash-...exit/?fullsite

If someone can snag them and upload them, that'd be great. I can't do it with my mobile.

**anj8488** · 08.27.2012

Should be alright with some duct tape...

**CondoCruiser** · 08.28.2012

That's two reasons why I wouldn't train. Even though it'll fall on the students, I think the trainers could of done better.

The tow truck driver's deep freezer is full of Green Giant frozen corn and Ore-Ida french fries.

**not4hire** · 08.28.2012

I wasn't anywhere near them.

**road_runner** · 08.28.2012

Two rollovers... within five miles of each other-c25f4a34ba321bcea163b60de1182925_600_600.jpg

Here is one of the pics from the wreck that I saw on my way home Sunday morning.

**48Packard** · 08.28.2012

Lease. Train. Drive. Roll Over. Slide. Safe!

**STexan** · 08.28.2012

The absolute worst time to be driving, team operation or otherwise. It can takes several months for a body/mind to adapt to being fully "alert" at those hours and to have an INexperienced driver at the controls only compounds any momentary lapses in alertness. But let them do it there way.