Demise of the Polo Ponies

[rancar]

Yesterday was a sad day for horse lovers. On I-87, just south of Saratoga Springs, NY, a truck and trailer carrying 11 polo ponies crashed due to a blown tire on the truck. Driver was seriously injured and now in hospital. Last I heard 7 of the polo ponies were killed or had to be euthanized. 8th one is struggling and may or may not make it. Only three will fully recover.

This was one of the most challenging and traumatic accidents to deal with on I-87. Many drivers who had never touched a horse stopped and tried to comfort the poor ponies and the driver who suffered multiple bone fractures and internal injuries.....all because of a blown tire that likely was due to over inflation or under inflation, but most certainly preventable.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=56272&category=REGION&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=8/27/2002>Story here</A>

 

[john4nh]

I wonder why you think it was over or under inflated?

One of the other problems with my brand new truck is a front tire with bulges on the side-wall. I put the spare on while waiting for the new one. If it was on the inside I wouldnt of seen it, until possibly to late.

Sounds like the guy put new tires on his trailer so I would hope if you go through that trouble while there youd at least look at your truck tires. Who knows we all heard "Firestone"

John

 

[Wingnut]

While I was in Alberta last week I saw a news report of another hose-involved accident. Back door opened of trailer , horse fell out, 3 people in folowing dead. They were still looking for the driver of the truck to file serious charges. Believe the accident was in California.

 

[rancar]

John...

Not really sure if the problem was a tire inflation problem or not but most stories I've heard about tires blowing out were attributable to improperly inflated tires. Of course, there could have been a defect in the tire. I too caught a bulge in my tire sidewall and thankfully I caught it in time before traveling and risking the chance of a blow out. They showed a picture of the truck on the local TV news. It looked like a new PU. Except for the Ford Explorer and Firestone incident with defective tires, I haven't heard of too many problems with defective tires on other vehicles.

Bob

 

[dgood1]

Bob,

I guess that you missed the announcement on the Continental tires on the Excursions and whatever the similar models that FOMOCO puts out. There is a large enough amount of tires being recalled on this one that Continental has run out of that size.

I remember going through 5 of the Firestone 500 tires back in the 70's. The last one went egg shaped and had steel sticking out of the sidewalls. They replaced all of my tires after a protracted go around. I ended up calling customer relations to get satisfaction.

We here in Aiken are quite attuned to the Firestone problem as we have a Bridgestone/Firestone plant here. Fortunately for us none of the tires from this plant were part of the recall. I believe most of them were from a plant up north.

 

[dgood1]

rancar,

I must tell you that I had to read your post a couple of times and then give myself a cool down period.

First of all I will tell you that I am from the Aiken area where Mr. Pimsner is from. I personally do not know him, but my youngest boy has met him while he was working the polo field in Aiken.

I am taken aback by your statement "all because of a blown tire that likely was due to over inflation or under inflation, but most certainly preventable." Unless you have specific knowledge as to the inflation condition of the tires, I would consider your statement as bordering on slanderous by infering that the driver was negligent.

I do not believe that was your intent and am posting this reply as a friendly caution on the choice of words.

 

[rancar]

Don...

Thanks for your cautionary note in the use of words. You're correct. It was not my intent to suggest the driver of this vehicle was negligent, either intentionally or by oversight. This incident could have very well been caused by a defect in the tire. All I meant to suggest was based on my experience and those experiences of others that I've discussed this issue with, most incidents of blown tires were likely attributable to improper tire inflation.

Sorry if I offended you and others by my poor choice of words.

Bob

 

[Soundguy]

For that matter, it could have been a piece of road debri that punctured the tire / shredded it.

Poor horses.

On I-75 in florida yesterday, a smaller suv.. like a chevy blazer, was pulling a 20' box trailer ( nice looking ), and something happened, and the trailer whipped the truck off the road, flipped the trailer on its side, and spun around so that the truck was on the shoulder facing the opposite it had come from. Truck and trailer were still coupled, but the truck was just able to sit more or less upright.. though the rear wheels wer off the ground.

We came up on it just after it had happened.

Soundguy



<font color=blue>This incident could have very well been caused by a defect in the tire.

 

[phantom309]

FWIW, if this was a Ford pickup truck (one poster said they saw a picture on TV and it was a new Ford), then unless it was an F550, it was definitely overloaded.

There isn't a one ton truck around that is certified to tow eleven horses. Eleven horses plus trailer and supplies could easily be 18,000 - 20,000 pounds. Depending on config, one ton pickups s are only rated to tow around 13,000.

Lots of people do it. I've done it! But it's a risk.

 

[Ozarker]

I am reminded of an accident that happened near here three or four years ago involving trailers and PU trucks. Two PU trucks, both with families trailers and horses, were traveling opposite directions on US 63 south of Rolla Missouri. One crossed the center line and hit the other head on. If I remember correctly everyone in both families and all the horses were killed on impact.

I believe the final determination was that both were overloaded and both were speeding.