Big Rig Avoids Animal But Jackknifes, Killing 2

A question that comes to mind is could a driver be found negligent in a case like this and end up doing time?

Sad story to hear about.

 

A few years ago we had a story in Grand Rapids about a rig that killed a guy in 131 South just coming into the I-96 interchange, where the road curves long back towards downtown if you are familiar with the area.

He came around the curve and there was an accident in the middle of the highway under the overpass- noplace to go around them- he saw 2 vehicles in the way, and was going to hit one of them.

One was a Volkswagen Jetta, the other was a Dodge Caravan.

His choice was the Jetta, thinking the van was possibly full of kids. Suffice to say that no matter how horrible the outcome or even that someone had to make that kind of decision, he made the right one. The man in the Jetta was killed, but the family in the minivan survived.

I can't imagine having that kind of choice placed before me...

But yeah- hit the animal.

 

Now if you're driving a Smart car and a deer just wanders into your path, you might want to consider swerving....

 

That is very true. 4 wheelers have been killed hitting a deer. But you guys in your big rigs are pretty safe, not to mention even more deadly if you do swerve. I remember the time that I came flying around a curve and there was an ELK in the middle of the road, and we don't have elk around here. That guy would have done some damage. I didn't swerve, but I did go around him.

 

sung to the tune of......?

 

Yes
and
yes.

 

I hit a deer awhile back.A good size buck.I blew my air horn and it charged the truck.I slowed down but stayed in my lane.Impact.Another driver was following behind.I told him to back out of it.I asked him what was left of the deer,he said small pieces.The bumper on my tractor was bent real good,but other than deer fur and blood,repairable.I don't hunt,but I might take it up.As of today I have gotten some good experience.
1.Deer
2.two possum's
3.one ground hog
4.two large snakes
5.one hawk
6.porqupine(left quills in the passenger tire)
7.armadillo
8.one bat
9.numerous insects
10.small bird(Got hung up in my drivers side mirror)Looked at him for 200 hundred miles ,although I tried not to.

 

how did u hit a hawk?

 

Probably the same way I killed a crow a few months ago. It didn't move off the road in time, it was very windy and it had to head right into the wind. It didn't make it. Man, I thought the windshield was going to crack - it hit HARD! Ugh. Better than a deer, though...

 

So I guess the SOP is

"If in doubt, take it out"