Trucker lost brakes, jumped out of truck, died.

I saw this today on my way home. The Logan Byway is on US 89 and 91...goes through a very scenic canyon connecting Logan to the Bear Lake area. On the east end is a downhill descent that has some medium sized grades, maybe 6-7%?...going down to Garden City and Bear Lake. I remember seeing an accident in almost the same spot about two years ago...flat bed flipped over on its right side.

This spot is about halfway down the hill. As I was passing by, I saw a baseball cap on the ground, circled in paint...didn't look good. I stopped for a pop and munchies at a gas station below and asked about it (small town)...the gal said she heard about a fatality.

Attached is a picture I took while waiting...Click on the picture to make it bigger. The fire truck in the middle...look above that...and you will see the dump truck. Its trailer is still connected, but hidden by the trees. I zoomed in and made another picture...you can just barely make out the orange cones showing the trucks tire tracks as it left the road.

*Prayers for the family.

This is from KSL news:
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=12761113

 

Looks as tho if the driver had stayed in the truck he might have made it, but thats a guess. That canyon is a tricky one and you need to take it easy going down either side, ive been over and thru there a few times at 80,000 pounds. Sorry to the family of the driver for theyr loss.

 

I agree...this portion of the byway is twisty going down the hill. I remember a couple of years ago, I was following two Werner trucks down the hill...the one in front was the trainer, the one in back was the trainee. Trainees brakes were smoking big time going down the hill. I got on the CB and got the trainer. They were able to make it down to the bottom where we stopped. The trainee didn't look too happy / very nervous and scared, almost crying...I think this was her first week or something driving...fairly new. Forgot to put her jakes on and was riding the brakes down the hill the entire time.

 

Tragic for sure but I never saw "jump out of truck" as one of the options in the material I've been studying...I would think by the time you realize you 'may' need to do that, you're going too fast to survive...

Is that a ruwaway truck ramp there to the right in the left picture?....

Stupid newb question ahead:

If you pull(or push) the handle to your service brakes, would that cause the spring brakes to come on IF that bleeds the air out of system?...

 

Riding the brakes will get you every time, ive seent hat happen on cabbage in oregon they lay on the brakes hard all the way down and a cloud of smoke half way down the hill.

 

I teach my trainees if you need to use your brakes down a mountain, you either 1 - Have an emergency and need to stop or 2 - You haven't got a clue and do not need to be behind the wheel. I take pride in my safety record and the way I teach future drivers, let the truck do the work. Get in the right gear, use your engine brakes and take it slow. There is NO Excuse anyone can give me for burning up your brakes. Sorry for the rant, BUT Safety is #1 out here. If it isn't, you need to go home and get off the road, go flip burgers somewhere!

Thanks,
Larry D.
1 Million + Safe Miles

 

5 year trucker with a million plus miles?

200000+ miles a year?

Dude?

 

Looks like he was a 5 year guy in '06. If so, he'd be around the 9 year mark now. At least that's how I'm ready it.

 

It wouldn't matter. If the brakes get hot enough they will not stop you no matter how much pressure is on them.

 

and to add a bit...
Remember...MOST (almost ALL) truck brakes are DRUMS....so when they get hot, the drum expands AWAY from the brake shoes....so you get less effective braking as they get hot...that and once the shoes get hot...even less braking...they may start to smoke....and burn...
Cars, way back in the day of drum brakes, had similar issues, but generally not as severe due to the lower weights involved (if you were stupid, or had to ride them, like going down a LONG grade, like the Mt Washington Auto road in NH)....Even Discs on a car can fail from heat...just run a car on an auto-x track day with the wrong pads....it will scare you!!
Now cars, and some trucks...kinda rare, but many fire trucks, are getting Disc brake systems...and they are generally more heat resistant...you still have the heat issue with pads BURNING, but the rotor does not get harder to press like in a Drum system....where the drun gets FURTHER away from the shoes as it gets hot. Disc brakes on heavy vehicles are still kinda rare, and specialized...mostly due to $$.
Remember....the springs brakes STILL USE THE SAME DRUMS AND SHOES AS THE SERVICE BRAKES!! If they have failed due to heat....you are SOL.