Truck Wreck Video.

[Teacher Mark 53]

september 18, 2008

Big Rig Rollover

Second victim pulled from Colfax big rig wreckage

By Jenna Nielsen, Journal Staff Writer

The body of a co-driver was extricated this morning by Cal Fire crews at the scene of Monday's big rig rollover crash near Colfax.

The body of a second man was found underneath debris Tuesday morning at the accident site of a big rig rollover near Colfax Monday, officials reported.

The man, whose name is not being released pending notification of his family, was reportedly a passenger in the big rig, which rolled into a guard rail spilling its load of recylced plastic down the embankment near the Magra Road exit on westbound Interstate 80, California Highway Patrol offi-cials reported.

The driver, who was trapped inside of the truck’s cab and was also killed in the accident, was re-portedly going 70 mph and passing another truck in the fast lane when he lost control and slid down an embankment, said CHP Officer Rich Ruiz.

“This morning, as the investigator was going over log books, (it was) determined there was possi-bly a co-driver involved,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said investigators also have video footage of the accident, recorded by a device on a Wal-Mart truck, which the driver of the big rig was passing at the time of the accident.

“The driver of the WalMart truck was doing 55 mph, so we estimate the driver (of the big rig) was going 70 mph when he approached a curve and lost control. You see in the video the trailer starts to fishtail. When the driver tries to correct, he is sent over the guardrail.”

Battalion Chief Jeff Brand of Cal Fire said crews located the co-driver under the debris and extricated him this morning.

Brand said when the truck was overturned, the cab was torn off and wedged beneath the contents of the trailer and the trailer itself.

All westbound lanes were closed as a result of the accident, which occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. All lanes were opened by approximately 7:45 p.m., California Highway Patrol officials said.

Ruiz said the driver of big rig had only had his license for nine days.

[DARUMA07 25]

WOW! I use to drive one of them back in the 80's... Gotta be careful!

[Muh and me 18]

WOW thats scary, when my 2nd husband drove, I worried about him all the time!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

When you see some of those guys meter along those highways, you wonder what the ** they're thinking behind the wheel. Or whether they are.

[Teacher Mark 53]

When you see some of those guys meter along those highways, you wonder what the ** they're thinking behind the wheel. Or whether they are.

The vast majority of Truckers are safe drivers. It only takes one bad one to tarnish the reputation of all of us. That guy had no business going down Donner Pass with 9 days experience. You'll notice he never hit the brakes. They may have went out on him, but he was in a higher gear when he should have been in one of the lower ones. His trainer was sleeping in the bunk. Sadly it cost them both their lives.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

When you see some of those guys meter along those highways, you wonder what the ** they're thinking behind the wheel. Or whether they are.

The vast majority of Truckers are safe drivers.

I agree. Notice that I said "some".

[Teacher Mark 53]

When you see some of those guys meter along those highways, you wonder what the ** they're thinking behind the wheel. Or whether they are.

The vast majority of Truckers are safe drivers.

I agree. Notice that I said "some".