Four Dead in Dump Truck Crash near Naples, FL
On January 25, 2008, four people were killed on US 41, just east of Naples, FL when a dump truck lost control, flipped over, and crashed into an SUV carrying 3 college students. The truck driver was killed as well, as both vehicles burned. Witnesses suspect the truck was speeding, which was probably a factor in him losing control.
Speed is one of the top factors in fatality truck crashes. Speed, speed, speed. Too many drivers get too comfortable with their ability to maneuver an 80,000 pound truck, but the fact remains that no matter how many new bells and whistles many trucks now have, such as automatic transmissions, power steering, etc. it’s still a truck. It doesn’t handle like a car.
It is especially dangerous to be speeding on a high speed two lane highway like US 41. I used to live in Florida, so I remember what some of those roads are like. It’s wide open, two lanes, light traffic, nothing but wilderness around. The temptation is to open her up and let it fly. Hey, you can make good time like that, but if a deer or alligator gets in front of you, or you blow a tire, you’d better have your crash test dummy’s license. It’s also two lanes, so opposing traffic is passing you at 140 MPH, just a few feet away, no median strip, no Jersey barrier. It doesn’t take much for one vehicle to cross the centerline, and cause a head-on, high-speed collision. The faster you are going, the less chance you have of avoiding the crash. Tell your drivers: SLOW DOWN.
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Eric Arnold is a Former Enforcement Agent with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and a leading expert on USDOT compliance for small businesses. Do you have a question for Eric Arnold? Email him at eric@arnoldsafety.com.
Arnold Safety simplifies D.O.T. Compliance for commercial vehicle operators. Get Eric Arnold’s USDOT Compliance Guide, DVD, & Regulations at ArnoldSafety.Com.
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