Super Truckers Take Heed - f350 towing a supposedly 710JD Backhoe Fatality

[tcartwri]

Trying to catch a lower gear when you are already in a runaway situation is suicide. You won't be able to complete the shift.

 

[ultrarunner]

I hope a cause is determined...

It would help to know if it was a mechanical failure, human error, medical condition or related to conditions.

I have a steep driveway down to the shop... it is paved and in wet weather is simply asking for trouble negotiating with a trailer... the previous owner was bringing home a car on his trailer and slid to the bottom with all wheels locked... truck and trailer.

A hundred years ago there were patents for truck anchors... a spike like plow that could be deployed in the event of a runaway... kind of like the cable cars have in San Francisco...

I guess the runaway truck ramps is what we have today?

 

[SPYDERLK]

News Article

UPDATE: A two-truck collision with a fatality closed Highway 49 in both directions at Nishinam Gulch Road Thursday night.

The accident was reported at 6:11 p.m. and involved a Ford F-350 and a smaller pickup, according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Greg Tassone.

A man was driving a Ford F-350 northbound on Highway 49 north of Sun Shadow Circle, near the Independence Trail, hauling an 兎normous backhoe on a very long 46-foot trailer, Tassone said.

As he began heading downhill, the truck sustained some sort of brake failure and began to pick up speed, Tassone said. As the Ford truck entered a curve, the trailer overturned into the oncoming lane, with the backhoe landing on a GMC pickup in the southbound lane.

The backhoe crushed the cab with the driver trapped inside; as of 9 p.m., crews were still working to extricate him. They also were working to confirm he was alone in the truck and his identity, Tassone said.

There was no estimated time for reopening Highway 49 and vehicles were being diverted at Newtown and Pleasant Valley roads.

Check back with The Union for more information.

Agreed, I'd like to know why he sped up.. That tells me -0- brakes, not even e brake.

There is more to this story

No mystery. Not enuf impeding force to fight gravity. He had some options, but even exercising all of them may not have been enuf since he was already at speed.

 

[4570Man]

I hope a cause is determined... It would help to know if it was a mechanical failure, human error, medical condition or related to conditions. I have a steep driveway down to the shop... it is paved and in wet weather is simply asking for trouble negotiating with a trailer... the previous owner was bringing home a car on his trailer and slid to the bottom with all wheels locked... truck and trailer. A hundred years ago there were patents for truck anchors... a spike like plow that could be deployed in the event of a runaway... kind of like the cable cars have in San Francisco... I guess the runaway truck ramps is what we have today?

We already know it was mostly human error. He was grossly overloaded, and very likely wasn't geared down properly.

 

[bdog]

They should charge the driver with murder. Accidents do happen but grossly overloading a vehicle is no accident. It is pure carelessness and disregard for anyone's safety. If you are a little overweight I don't see it being quite as big of a deal but this moron was likely 10,000lbs overweight. It didn't say which model of 710 it was but a 4WD with cab and extendahoe is probably close to 25k. A big 40' tandem dual gooseneck probably weighs 9k. That's a 34k load. A f-350 is rated to tow 24k.

 

[LD1]

They should charge the driver with murder. Accidents do happen but grossly overloading a vehicle is no accident. It is pure carelessness and disregard for anyone's safety. If you are a little overweight I don't see it being quite as big of a deal but this moron was likely 10,000lbs overweight. It didn't say which model of 710 it was but a 4WD with cab and extendahoe is probably close to 25k. A big 40' tandem dual gooseneck probably weighs 9k. That's a 34k load. A f-350 is rated to tow 24k.

I thought someone said the newer f350's can be had up to 35k tow capacity? And maybe this guy even had a cdl?

Without more detail, we cannot 100% say that he was overloaded from a "legal" standpoint. Without knowing the exact model 710, or weight of trailer,or just what f350 config he had.

And if he was 100% legal..........and it was mechanical failure but cannot prove negligance/lack of maintenance.....where does the blame lie? Common sense tells us that too much weight behind a f350. But Ford commercials and brochures tell us otherwise don't they?

 

[aczlan]

From the same paper:

A man killed after a backhoe and trailer overturned onto his truck Thursday night has been identified as Wesley Guthrie, 32, of Auburn.
The collision closed Highway 49 in both directions at Nishinam Gulch Road for about five hours.
The accident was reported at 6:11 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Greg Tassone.
Terry Cordell, 58, of Newcastle, was driving a Ford F-350 northbound on Highway 49 north of Sun Shadow Circle, near the Independence Trail, hauling a large, double-axle gooseneck trailer with a large construction tractor/backhoe. He was not licensed to drive a combination of vehicles of this weight and size, Tassone said.
As Cordell began heading downhill, the truck sustained some sort of brake failure and began to pick up speed, losing control, Tassone said. As the Ford truck entered a curve, the trailer overturned into the oncoming lane.
Andrew Zwolinski, 32, of Nevada City, was driving the opposite direction (southbound) in a Toyota 4Runner. Guthrie was also driving southbound in a GMC pickup, directly behind Zwolinski.
Zwolinski saw the trailer overturning into his lane and accelerated in attempt to avoid the collision, Tassone said; his vehicle was hit in the rear but he otherwise made it past the trailer. The trailer and backhoe then overturned fully onto the GMC pickup driving behind Zwolinski, crushing the cab.
Fire department and emergency medical personnel responded to the incident with CHP officers. Guthrie was pronounced dead at the scene. Cordell痴 pickup truck remained largely upright; he and his passenger were not injured. Zwolinski was not injured.
CHP is handling the ongoing investigation. Cordell was released from the scene, but his vehicles and equipment were impounded for evidence and further examination.

So, no CDL but should have had one.

Aaron Z

 

[LD1]

From the same paper:


So, no CDL but should have had one.

Aaron Z

Or does he call under some sort of farm exemption that didn't require a license and just not yet know as everything is still under investigation?

And no mention of anything being overweight.

Something that is usually always mentioned in the "cdl" threads is that you can register a truck for whatever, and be deemed legal for whatever weight as long as individual axle or tire capacities are not exceeded.

So......from a legal point......the driver may/may not have been legal. But the rig could certainly "have" been legal with a proper licensed driver.

Or this could have been a 1992 f-350 SRW with maybe a 10k tow rating for all we know? Anyone see anything that tells more about the truck other than a F350?

 

[LD1]

Not trying to make excuses or trying to say the driver did no wrong here. 18 wheelers suffer brake failure, run away, overturn, etc as well. I will hold out quick judgment till ALL the facts are known

 

[bdog]

I thought someone said the newer f350's can be had up to 35k tow capacity? And maybe this guy even had a cdl?

Without more detail, we cannot 100% say that he was overloaded from a "legal" standpoint. Without knowing the exact model 710, or weight of trailer,or just what f350 config he had.

And if he was 100% legal..........and it was mechanical failure but cannot prove negligance/lack of maintenance.....where does the blame lie? Common sense tells us that too much weight behind a f350. But Ford commercials and brochures tell us otherwise don't they?

The max 5th/goose towing capacity listed for a 2015 F-350 possible is 25,100 with a 2 wheel drive regular cab dually. I haven't seen too many of those on the road the 4WD and super/ crew cabs are rated for less.

The Superduties that are in the 30k range are the 450's and up.