Thread: Wrong place wrong time.

the only possible positive, it was quick....

terrible stuff...

Definitely nasty. A couple of people were killed near here a few weeks back on the highway to bathurst. The people who died were heading towards lithgow when they suddenly drifted onto the wrong side of the road (road is brand new and not at all windy) the car coming the other way tried to move over right to the shoulder to miss them but he kept on coming, they hit head on at 100km/h. The car they hit was a 4wd and the other a charade so they didnt stand a chance but now the owner of the 4wd has to live with it the rest of his life even though it wasnt his fault. Matt

That's shocking Andy!. I saw it on GWN tonight.

I hope for the truck drivers/owners sake that it was just a freak occurence and not the result of poor maintenance.

Hi Jamo
The welding on the hinges of the tipper is very dodgy,not very good penetration,both sides were obviously cracked as where the weld broke the metal was shiny,but there was areas that wasnt shiny therefore cracked.The chassis of the bin overlaps the chassis of the trailer so normally even if the hinges were totally broken the bin should stay put.
The back trailer was obviously well out of control for some reason,like a serious swerve,the chassis ended upside down still connected to the first trailer,the ringfeeder on the A trailer is upside down and the drawbar is un-damaged.
The trucking company is well known in the area and they have a very good reputation,one can only feel for the driver.
I wonder with airbags they would have survived??? the passenger compartment was still intact,both seatbelts appearred to have broke on impact,still pluged in.The ute was a 2000 or newer vehicle in good nick.
Those people who got sideswiped are so lucky,it may have been worse.

We had a very similar accident a couple of weeks ago on the Narrogin Rd,fortunately the second trailer when it came loose didnt hit another vehicle.It did hit the 900mm water pipeline and ruptured it causing an amazing water feature.We commented at the time if anybody was coming the other way they would be dead.
Andrew

Sounds like another napping driver awakes and corrects his direction to quickly and looses control.

Originally Posted by LoadedDisco

Sounds like another napping driver awakes and corrects his direction to quickly and looses control.

Hmmm... it does doesn't it ?

It's very very sad.

Very Sad!

I often follow road trains where the rear trailer is flailing all over the place. A combination of inexperience and working too long methinks.

Hi Jamo and Loaded Dice.
I must say in the truckies defence,and I dont know him or the owner of the company.
He hitched that second trailer up at 3.45pm across from the BP roadhouse,the accident happened at 5.30pm,27km away.He must have stopped for his compulsory break.The driver apparently has been with the company for along time and is well respected.
I too have seen "waggy" roadtrains,and have come across a double fatality 12 years ago as a result of a "waggy" second trailer pushing a car into a big tree,not nice at all.
You have to look at the possability that the driver swerved to avoid an errant motorist.
I drive a 6 wheeler and semi trailer at work,a small swerve through inattention wouldnt cause such a wild upturning of the second trailer.
The guys who drive for this company are amongst the best on the road,they are the only ones who drive UNDER the speed limit thru our jobs,including this truck, RESPECT WHERE RESPECT IS DUE.
Andrew