Losing U-Haul trailer causes accident, and death of driver.

[kebo]

I know it's been said here time and time again, but check the latch on the coupler, and the safety chains often during a trip!! Oh yeah, wear the seatbelts too!

[h=1]One Dead in Single Vehicle Accident[/h]
Orangeburg, SC (WLTX) -- The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating a single vehicle accident that occurred Saturday morning in Orangeburg County.
According to officials the driver of a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer was traveling northbound on I-95 near mile marker 87 around 11:45am.
Officers say the driver was pulling a U-Haul that came loose, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The driver then swerved into the median and the vehicle overturned.
According to Lance Corporal Sonny Collins, both the driver and the passenger were ejected from the vehicle. The driver was pronounced dead on the scene. The passenger was transported to Palmetto Richland Hospital. The passenger's condition is unknown at this time.
The name of the victim has not yet been released.

One Dead in Single Vehicle Accident | wltx.com

 

[Travelover]

I'm curious why a trailer coming loose in a single car accident would cause the tow vehicle to go out of control.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm curious why a trailer coming loose in a single car accident would cause the tow vehicle to go out of control.

If the safety chains were rigged, they could cause the rear of the tow vehicle (a Chevy Trailblazer, in this case) to sway side to side uncontrollably...especially if the trailer/load was heavier then the vehicle was designed for. Also, the driver might have been driving at an imprudent speed.
Even if the trailer hadn't come loose, if it starts swaying, it can result in a "tail wagging the dog" situation.

 

[newbury]

I just had an accident with a U-Haul car dolly last Thursday. I was pulling a Honda Civic down from Alexandria, VA.
Driving about 55 on 72/20 in North Alabama the wheel and tire broke off the passenger side of the dolly. Luckily I was in the slow lane. Unluckily the wheel spun off and hit a house with minor damage.

As soon as I heard the noise I knew something was wrong and pulled to the side. My F350 was partially loaded




with about 1800 lbs of pallet rack and I didn't notice any "pull" on my dually until I got the tow dolly off the pavement and the axle stub started "plowing", even then it was only a slight pull. I first thought a chain or something had broke and was dragging, not the entire dolly. I left a groove in the asphalt about 50 to 100 yards long.

U-Haul is not maintaining their equipment well. I had to grease the ratchets to get the tire straps to work, the 4 wire for lights frayed and broke.

/edit - in retrospect a dually is nice.

 

[Renze]

If people were ejected from the seat, they probably didint have their seat belts on... Few years ago a guy was killed in a minor collision because he was slung out of the vehicle and then overridden by his own car because he didnt have a seatbelt on.

 

[aczlan]

with about 1800 lbs of pallet rack and I didn't notice any "pull" on my dually until I got the tow dolly off the pavement and the axle stub started "plowing", even then it was only a slight pull. I first thought a chain or something had broke and was dragging, not the entire dolly. I left a groove in the asphalt about 50 to 100 yards long.
U-Haul is not maintaining their equipment well. I had to grease the ratchets to get the tire straps to work, the 4 wire for lights frayed and broke.
/edit - in retrospect a dually is nice.

There is no replacement for displacement...

Aaron Z

 

[Patches]

There is no replacement for displacement...

Aaron Z

Engines or vehicles!!!

 

[flyingcow]

I wish i had a dash cam the a couple of weeks ago. I drive trailer truck, doing 68mph. Windy day, 1/2ton pickup towing an older 30 ft camper, passed me on I-95. He might have been at 70mph. Cleared the front of my truck and the wind and pressure from the truck sent the trailer wagging. He did his best, but it was a lost cause. I piled on the brakes as he went side to side. Got a real bad feeling, but he kept it on it's wheels. When we stopped he was approx 150ft in front on me. We were looking at each other sitting in the travel lane. I seriously do not know why he didn't flip. i was hoping that the hitch would breakaway before he went over, but all ended well. Rolled the tires off of the rims of the trailer. We talked for a minute, I asked him if he had a heart condition( he was in his 60's), cause once the adrenalin wears out it might get rough. Said he was fine. Picked up the debris, he pulled into a crossover and away I went. Stuff happens, it ended better than i thought it was going to. everyone was standing upright.

 

[newbury]

There is no replacement for displacement...

Aaron Z

I view it as a fat bottom perk.

 

[crazyal]

I worked across the street from a U-haul rental/ service center for several years. We had plenty of extra space so we let them park trucks on our side. We, of course, got to know them well. They had a couple of guys with service trucks who would spend most of their time on the road repairing break downs. That was 20 or more years ago and the only real servicing they did was oil changes. Everything else was run to fail. The places that just rent them out do no work what so ever on them. Not sure if any of the other truck rental places are any better. At least with trucks you can track mileage (as long as it wasn't disconnected to save a few bucks by a renter) so you know about when to service it but with trailers I bet they don't even try to track it.