Trucker Criver Credited For Saving Lives

I agree with Sgt. Rock on those comments. The driver did what he could.

 

I want to hear..............

the rest of the story !!!

 

Rest of story, (made up of course)
When the truck driver went back to his company he was awarded for his fine driving by the Florida State Patrol. After the State Patrol left the terminal the driver was awarded by his company a preventable accident and a bad mark on his record and loss of job so a new seat warmer can come in and do his job for half of the cost. Terminal Saftey Director say's, "This will save the company money in the long run so i can buy my new boat this summer with my cut of the saveings."

Thats what happens for the most part, unless he works for a great company that takes care of good drivers.

 

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A semi truck driver is being credited for saving lives and keeping a crash from becoming worse Wednesday. The crash forced the Turnpike to shut down near the Southchase community (see map) . Traffic was backed up for about five miles, but has since reopened. The semi truck driver is being credited for saving lives, even though he hit several cars.

The crash happened over the crest of an overpass. When he drove on the overpass, he was encountered by several cars, two of which had already crashed. The semi driver had to slam on his breaks at full speed, hitting a number of cars, but eyewitnesses said it could have been much worse.

"It was insane. It was crazy," eyewitness Shana Burns said.

Dozens of Turnpike drivers said they're amazed they did not get caught up in the eight-vehicle pileup that left one SUV on it's side, sent several people to the hospital, and caused a massive rush hour backup between the Orange Blossom Trail and the Osceola Parkway.

It all began with a minor two-car crash.

"Everybody started pulling over to the side and all of the sudden a tractor-trailer hauling cars coming straight down the middle. I tried to move to the left, but he just came straight down, just wiping everybody out," said Jorge Cruz, whose wife was injured.

Cruz's wife was hospitalized, but their 16-month-old baby was not injured. His wife's arm may be broken.

But none of the victims had life-threatening injuries and many drivers credited the driver of a semi truck with saving lives by keeping his rig under control on a crowded highway.

"I just saw him coming full speed. I barely moved over to the median in the nick of time and I just saw him go through all those cars," eyewitness Bethany Roland said.

"He did an awesome, awesome job at driving through everybody, he could have hit so many more people and he didn't," eyewitness Sharon Rupp said.

The driver of the flipped SUV had to be extracted from the vehicle after rescuers cut the truck open like a soup can. Meanwhile, with more than seven miles to the closest exit ramp, thousands of cars backed up as tow trucks worked to clear the scene.

"It was like a movie scene. It just had me shaking and so nervous. I'm just happy nobody got killed in this," Roland said.

The Florida Highway Patrol there were eight injuries and four people were transported to hospitals. The other four took themselves to be treated. FHP said there were no serious injuries. Most of the people were released Wednesday night.

Copyright 2011 by wftv.com. All rights reserved.​