Yikes! 75mph winds tip over semi on Mackinac Bridge, saved by guardrail

Discussion in 'Trucking Accidents' started by c64basic, Jul 19, 2013.

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  1. Noggin

    Noggin Road Train Member

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    Mandatory 30 minute break. Nothing he could do
     
    Noggin, Jul 19, 2013
    #11
    OPUS 7 Thanks this.
  2. KW Cajun

    KW Cajun Road Train Member

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    The "aerodynamic crap" isn't designed for side force wind at all... it just concentrates on front to rear straight line air resistance. But I'm guessing you really knew that.:biggrin_25520:
     
    KW Cajun, Jul 19, 2013
    #12
  3. Evil_E

    Evil_E Heavy Load Member

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    Holy crap! 100' drop if he would've went off in the middle. Then 50° water after that....glad no one got hurt.
     
    Evil_E, Jul 19, 2013
    #13
  4. Bumpy

    Bumpy Road Train Member

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    I've only been on that bridge once but;when on it it sure looks a lot higher than 100ft..!! No.Not afraid of heights. Ex-paratrooper here.:) ####..Should have said "Former"...
     
    Bumpy, Jul 19, 2013
    #14
  5. Calspring

    Calspring Light Load Member

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    If you look he still has the boat tail on the trailer. The one side is just folded up. Might have to straigten out a few dents in the trailers and things but could have been much worse that is for sure.
     
    Calspring, Jul 19, 2013
    #15
  6. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    when you have to put on the windshield wipers on the bay bridge tunnel
    your just grateful for those 2 tunnels to get to breathe
     
    Cranky Yankee, Jul 19, 2013
    #16
  7. c64basic

    c64basic Medium Load Member

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    In another article it said he was carrying a light load so I would think the guy had to have some reservations about crossing the bridge as he was approaching it. So what do you do in a situation like that? It's not like there's an alternate route from lower MI to the UP (other than coming back up thru Wisconsin or Canada). Can he just pull over and tell his dispatcher he needs to wait it out for safety reasons?
     
    c64basic, Jul 19, 2013
    #17
  8. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Wait it out? Wait 20 minutes? 4 hours? a day? Nobody knows when it's going to be "safe" to cross. Driver, carrier, and customer may be in for a long wait.
     
    STexan, Jul 19, 2013
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  9. KANSAS TRANSIT

    KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

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    Not to mention I have been running down the road on a fairly clear day and encountered a micro burst, it literally came out of nowhere. If you ever get hit by one, you WILL know it, basically a mini tornado.
     
    KANSAS TRANSIT, Jul 19, 2013
    #19
  10. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    Years ago a driver at a company I worked at called in and claimed the wind was really bad.

    The dispatcher berated him and basically forced him to roll by saying if not delivered, he could find another way home.

    The wind blew the truck over. Charged with an accident and let go.

    What it comes down to is a Catch-22.
     
    Roadmedic, Jul 19, 2013
    #20
    OPUS 7 and c64basic Thank this.
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