Horrible crash in Lakewood CO, I70 closed both directions. 12 vehicles 4 semi huge fire

It has been a problem for a long while. I started trucking again in 99 when I closed down my shop and road service, it was a problem then and had been for several years. I would get phone calls at 2 in the morning from broke down drivers that could not even attempt to tell me what was wrong or where they were. I guess they thought they would be lucky enough that I would know russian, somalian, all manner of languages.
I always wondered how these guys found the places they were loading or delivering.

 

I'm not pointing fingers here other than inexperience and lack of proper training .
When I started in the late 80s an old hand said to me " you can do it to slow everytime but once to fast will get you " ..
I've only come down the hill once with my 85 kw k100e 285 cat with no Jake and decided I didnt need to be on it again !
I've adhered to that !

 

My first CDL was just a written exam. Yet you say today’s standards are less thorough?

 

That kid knew about brakes as much as you do. Pulling the parking brake would not have stopped the truck at this point

I let go my hazmat endorsement a few years ago had to get it back for new job. Went to DMV to get the book and study for the test. The lady at DMV says “we are out of the English version. Do you want one in Spanish?” Huh
So in California you don’t need to speak English to get a CDL if they give you the option to take the test in Spanish.
However it looks like inexperience and age of the driver was the cause of this accident.
Now megas want to put 18 years old behind the wheel. A grown man would have made different decisions than this kid.
Don’t get me wrong a lot of young man out there can handle it if they received the right training and that’s a big IF.

 

Hard to know but, based on what we see he didn't make any attempt on breaking, or any smoking brakes or my fav avoid the runaway ramp. I will say this I like that video him say OOOOO, my god. My coffee spilled when I first saw this. one thing is certain no company will take him and no insurance. all we can do wait for play out and see the verdict really there's bound be more people who recorded on that highway. I have multiple recorders in my personal vehicles front and back cameras. personally, think everyone needs them for there protection.

 

Something else to consider ...one year of experience and based out of Houston ....I wonder if he ever had any experience or training in mountain driving there is a reason half of the companies I've worked at paid drivers oor miles to cut up north to Cheyenne is South to nm

 

I would hope so but I cannot say for sure people need mountain training for sure before let lose I see them just about every year seems going too fast down the mountain about as fast he went maybe faster seen some drove off sheer cliffs. its tragic people can't take control there rigs maybe lack of training or lack of respect I never know.

 

Lack of fear and proper respect for the road they're driving on I'd say. Like my shop teacher always said, it's not the guy who's a little afraid of the saw that gets his finger taken off, same thing driving with more serious consequences.

 

I got mine in 76, and have not taken a driving test to this day.