Wow!! Your post prompted me to go to Youtube to see more footage -- it looks like (maybe) the trailer started to sway and the truck was "whipped" over the guardrail. The safety chains attached to the trailer suspended the truck, so the trailer (laying on its side) anchored the truck.
My little trailer would never have been able to do that!
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2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
It definitely made me stop and think about scrimping a few dollars on a high quality safety chain!
I had a friend with a Tundra and a short 5th wheel trailer about 10 years ago. The trailer flipped off the freeway going southbound on the grapevine (I5) and took the Tundra with it for 2 1/2 revolutions. He and his wife were unharmed but had to crawl out through the windows as I remember. Literally nothing was left of the 5th wheel and their belongs were scattered over 100 yards.
I have not read any reports which attributed it to high winds. It was the F350 which went over the side and keep in mind it is close to 7000 lbs being held by a safety chain.
LJAZ, thanks for reporting this as it is different than the other reports I read. Sad and scary! Human error/judgment was obviously a major problem. Glad they lived to tell the story. Wow, an hour and 8 minutes dangling with their lives in the balance.
Yeah, pretty scary. Apparently the area is known for extreme winds but it's hard to imaging this could happen. It sure pays to have good safety equipment. The rescue team's efforts were amazing. Fortunately everyone got out safely.
You'd think those concrete barriers would stop a vehicle, but the last few accidents I've seen, they almost act like ramps.
We have similar barriers here in Utah to keep oncoming traffic split, and the last few accidents (both trucks) have jumped those barriers and into oncoming traffic.
In fact, a local news station had an employee, his wife and all their dogs die when he lost control on a snowy overpass, jumped the barriers and crashed below. No one was wearing seatbelts.
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The name's Jeff
2005 Fun Finder T139FK
2008 Jeep Wrangler JKU
I saw wreckage last year from someone with a Jeep Liberty trying to tow a travel trailer that had to have been at least 20 - 25' long, no way they should have been doing that.
The wreck was just outside a town about where they would have been up to speed on the highway. It looked as though the trailer had it's way with the little Liberty.
I don't think they even make the right kind of hitch to tow a trailer that size for a car that small. I'm guessing too small a ball, no sway control/load leveler, recipe for disaster.
Certainly a frightful situation to be in. Then again I hold that no one will live one day longer or one day less God planned for each at the moment of conception. Others may believe differently.
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2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
I saw wreckage last year from someone with a Jeep Liberty trying to tow a travel trailer that had to have been at least 20 - 25' long, no way they should have been doing that.
The wreck was just outside a town about where they would have been up to speed on the highway. It looked as though the trailer had it's way with the little Liberty.
I don't think they even make the right kind of hitch to tow a trailer that size for a car that small. I'm guessing too small a ball, no sway control/load leveler, recipe for disaster.
True, it's amazing how often people overload their TV's. Unfortunately trailering math is not well understood, even by the dealers.
But in this case the truck was a single axle F350 so should have been within its specs.
Accident is a sobering reminder
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