Five killed in KCMO crash on I-435

We know:

The car was at a complete standstill in the right-most lane
The semi rear ended the Mazda Protege with enough force that the trunk was in the driver area of the passenger compartment
The truck driver was not injured
The truck driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs


I'm sorry, but I'm just not able to imagine any possible scenario where the driver wasn't out-driving his visibility, attention, or braking distance.

I'm not saying I'm a saint, but this truck driver killed 5 people. I'm sure he didn't mean to and he probably feels horrible. But this was preventable and should stand as a reminder of what can happen out there when we sinners don't drive like we know we should.

 

Here's what I know. Darkness clouds your judgement. Here's what we don't know. If that car still had lights on. If it didn't, there's no way the driver could have taken evasive actions in time.

 

Pretty sure the article said the stalled car was in the "left" lane. And I know that I-435 (just south of I-70 interchange) is a 70 mph. stretch, AND 3 lanes.
My question would be, what is the semi doing in the left lane (though it is not restricted)?

And the dude with the story about his daughter not being able to get off the road---why? If you are tooling down the road at 65 to 70 mph. and your vehicle stalls---as long as you are in your right mind and understand physics, the momentum can afford you plenty opportunity to get your car off the road (should shoulder space allow). The only thing that would stop you from being able to coast off the road is if you brake, or if your steering locks up, or if the wheels lock up for some reason.

 

one day, when truck driving is replaced by robots, EVERYONE will drive the way they should (programmed)

until that day, we have human beings driving trucks, and as much as i would like to agree we are all perfect, we are not

"driving the way we should" means perfection at every moment, and as humans, we cannot "check our mirrors every 8 seconds for 11hrs", we cannot "maintain 8 second following distance" at all times, we cannot "drive within our headlights at night (about 45mph)"

these rules are better called, recommendations for safe driving, but not to be cited or used to convict a human being of making a mistake, or a lapse in attention

sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle, ANY VEHICLE, for hours on end is work, and its not tiring work, its monotonous work, which is why we have phones, radio, cb's, look at signs, daydream, etc

road hypnosis is also a problem, but these rules are leading towards that becoming a problem also

55mph thru cali is nothing but shear torture
and most of us get from Points A to B without a hitch, but each of us can tell you many many close calls "if it werent for the Mercy of God" all sorts of disasters may have happened

this driver, as well as walmart in jersey, and others, are victims of "not their lucky day", as are the victims

accidents do happen and no amount of laws and penalties will change that, even if you make driving while texing a capital offense, people will still do it

and i am sure, when robots take over our jobs, they too will have accidents

 

It was not yet dark when this happened and the car was in the right lane next to the highway shoulder. The truck driver should be charged with some form of homicide.

 

The article in the OP said "outermost" lane.

It was the right lane:

 

http://www.kctv5.com/story/27726761/desperate-i-435-driver-frantically-sought-help-as-car-broke-down

 

I've seen too many broke down vehicles that DON'T turn their emergency flashers on and turn off the lights.

 

If he had a vehicle on his left, other than braking, there was no way to avoid collision pending speed:distance calc...

 

Or if people in right lane won't let you over from the 2nd lane in time...


Did it say how long they sat in brokedown car in travel lane? Or did it happen right after breakdown?