RV accident kills five!

[QRTRHRS]

I decided to post this here rather than the safety forum since vehicle safety is always a concern on the transportation forum.

First off, my heart goes out to the family(s) that were involved in this tragic accident. The seventeen year old that was driving will carry this burden forever.

That said, the news said that the truck was a Freightliner. From the photos, I think it may have been a class 7 pulling maybe a toy hauler trailer. I have also read that they had a web site.

Several thoughts on this. Though I was driving dump trucks including pulling a tag along at seventeen, it was a far different time and I did not have people with me who's life's I was responsible for.

These folks were at some kind of event. Were they competing and if so, how was this rig licensed.

Was this rig safe? Is anyone really scrutinizing a setup like this the way a commercial vehicle is or at least is supposed to be?

You don't hear of tragidies like this involving RV's all that often. Perhaps this one made headlines because of five deaths. Still, I have said it before and I will say it again, some oversight is needed both vehicle and driver qualification wise for RV's

 

[HHR]

It was a tandem axle Freightliner Columbia class 8 truck with a stretched frame and a custom "class c" RV body on the back. The trailer was a triple axle double decker tag trailer. I'm guessing truck weight around 40k and trailer weight over 18k.
Driver was 17 years old with a provisional license.
Sad story.

 

[AGGIE00]

Why isn't an accident ever an accident. Everything is avoidable, but to what point. Every tragedy does not need to result in more laws and more government involvement to save us from ourselves.

 

[timswi]

Why isn't an accident ever an accident. Everything is avoidable, but to what point. Every tragedy does not need to result in more laws and more government involvement to save us from ourselves.

Very, very true.

 

[HHR]

Here is a link to the news story.

http://www.startribune.com/local/145595155.html

Here is another link that has more info on the vehicles.

http://www.startribune.com/local/145741265.html

 

[powerpace]

No 17 year old should have been driving that rig. Experience is the teacher in all things. Even though he competed in driving sporting events doe's not make the driver an expert in driving a RV. Most States are adopting laws to limit the hours and driving situations of younger drivers. Accidents are the number one killer of young people.

CDC - Teen Drivers Fact Sheet - Motor Vehicle Safety

 

[AGGIE00]

No 17 year old should have been driving that rig. Experience is the teacher in all things. Even though he competed in driving sporting events doe's not make the driver an expert in driving a RV. Most States are adopting laws to limit the hours and driving situations of younger drivers. Accidents are the number one killer of young people.

CDC - Teen Drivers Fact Sheet - Motor Vehicle Safety

Maybe not, but we don't need another law because of it. By the same rational no 17yo should be driving anything but a horse. There are more than plenty of adults that could not handle that rig and many 17yo that can. By the time I was 17 I had driven everything and most before I had a license. I had more experience with tractor trailer rigs than a lot of guys coming out of truck driving school. It all depends on the person. When I was a kid a friend of mine wrecked his mustang, so I guess those are out too.

 

[tractchores]

Wow, the article says there were 18 people on board. That's pretty crazy and a lot of responsibility for a 17 year old. Who knows if laws would have made a difference or not. Pretty sad

 

[powerpace]

Maybe not, but we don't need another law because of it. By the same rational no 17yo should be driving anything but a horse. There are more than plenty of adults that could not handle that rig and many 17yo that can. By the time I was 17 I had driven everything and most before I had a license. I had more experience with tractor trailer rigs than a lot of guys coming out of truck driving school. It all depends on the person. When I was a kid a friend of mine wrecked his mustang, so I guess those are out too.

So by your rational it's okay. As long as no one gets hurt or caught while doing it illegally? I'm sure the dead and injured had a choice too.

Car crashes are a leading cause of death among teenagers, and Minnesota has one of the nations worst death rates. In response, the Minnesota State Legislature introduced a set of rules in 2008 restricting when teenagers can drive, and limiting the passengers they can carry during the first year of holding a driver's license.

For the first six months, drivers under 18 can't drive between midnight and 5 a.m. except to travel to work or school, or if they have a licensed driver over 25 with them.

For the first first six months, drivers under 18 can only have one other teenage passenger, unless accompanied by a parents of guardian. Then, for the next six months, teenagers may only drive up to three teenage passengers.

 

[BXinNH]

I don't believe he is saying it is ok, just that maybe what is needed is common sense more than legislation.

 

[Ductape]

or caught while doing it illegally?

Maybe I missed something, but it was my understanding it was legal for him to be driving the motorhome?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

If foresight was as good as hindsight it would help reduce accidents but it is not. While I was driving overloaded grain trucks at that age with weak brakes it still was risky but I did have six years behind the wheel experience due to our rural setting and being the oldest in the family.

 

[Elcid76]

I live near where this happened. It was very strange last night as I drove by the scene to think what actually happened on that non-descript bridge. The remains of the accident are still in the creek bed, and the recently built concrete bridge rails are smashed. Grim reminder to be careful. Kansas is known for all types of animal hazzards. The area that this happened in is well stocked with deer, turkey, and coyote. It is hard to believe that he could have been sleepy (which was my first thought...). There already were three crosses on that same bridge, now there will be several more. Some accidents just stick with you, I know that this site will be recalled by all of us that live by it.... Laws do not protect us, decisions do....

 

[powerpace]

Maybe I missed something, but it was my understanding it was legal for him to be driving the motorhome?

'Car crashes are a leading cause of death among teenagers, and Minnesota has one of the nations worst death rates. In response, the Minnesota State Legislature introduced a set of rules in 2008 restricting when teenagers can drive, and limiting the passengers they can carry during the first year of holding a driver's license.

For the first six months, drivers under 18 can't drive between midnight and 5 a.m. except to travel to work or school, or if they have a licensed driver over 25 with them.

For the first first six months, drivers under 18 can only have one other teenage passenger, unless accompanied by a parents of guardian. Then, for the next six months, teenagers may only drive up to three teenage passengers."

The driver had a provisional license.
In my understanding the parent or guardian must be in the seat next to you.

 

[aczlan]

In response, the Minnesota State Legislature introduced a set of rules in 2008 restricting when teenagers can drive, and limiting the passengers they can carry during the first year of holding a driver's license.
For the first six months, drivers under 18 can't drive between midnight and 5 a.m. except to travel to work or school, or if they have a licensed driver over 25 with them.
For the first first six months, drivers under 18 can only have one other teenage passenger, unless accompanied by a parents of guardian. Then, for the next six months, teenagers may only drive up to three teenage passengers.

Ok, if he had a parent in the vehicle and a licensed driver over 25 riding shotgun, he still would have been legal to drive that truck/trailer.

Aaron Z

 

[Diamondpilot]

Common sense is not common. It should be called "Special Sense"

Chris

 

[Mike476]

I can't agree that age determine's whether or not someone is able to drive a vehicle of this type. I too grew up in a rural area, was driving my father's vehicles on back roads a lot younger than the law allowed, tractors at my mother's family farm etc. Those were different times. There is nothing wrong with people learning nuances and challenges driving a vehicle of this classification offer, regardless of age.

We're supposed to learn from the easy ones, IMHO this is one of those times.

 

[rsewill]

I've seen these rigs often enough. Once I was deadheading in my 78 MPH governed, 470 HP tractor pulling a flatbed across South Dakota on 75 MPH I-90, a trip I'd made many times. It would really stick to the road so easy enough for me to set the speed control at the max and not worry about the curves. I didn't get passed by many trucks, fuel costing what it does, but I got passed by one of those rigs (a Peterbilt) eastbound just east of Sturgis. About 20 minutes later I came across the wrecked unit a little west of Rapid City at a curve that had a 70 MPH speed limit, ok for cars, not so much for trucks. There was already plenty of help so I didn't stop and I believe everyone survived. Motorcycles scattered everywhere! The curve has been improved since then. And that curve was worse going the other direction because of the crown in the road, it would toss you off the road if you weren't careful.

Too many things can go wrong for an inexperienced driver, especially one who is 17 and thinks they are both invulnerable and 'superior' physically, knowing it all. In this case no 17 year old should ever have been behind the wheel. So many passengers, too much at risk. Just takes a dip in the road, a gust of wind on a slight curve or a poorly maintained bridge approach ramp, his trailer begins to wag and the truck is doomed. I have decades of big truck experience but when I get behind the wheel of my father's 40' RV I am always amazed at how hard it is for me to adjust to the soft suspension.