mitch504
Senior Member
There was a fatal accident here that disturbs me on so many levels. A 22 y/o flagman was killed by a friend of mine, driving a company truck owned by a very close friend of mine, who was also my best customer.
This man was driving an F250, pulling a 10-ton gooseneck trailer loaded with pallets of feed. An SUV stopped by a flagman, and he couldn't stop in time. He tried to go around the SUV on the right, but the corner of the trailer clipped the back corner of the SUV, pushing it over the young flagger.
I'm not sure if the flagman stopped the SUV suddenly, like the pickup driver said, or if he was just a little too late noticing, but I guess there is really no way he's not at fault. I have known and worked with him for years, he is normally a very careful driver, and he is a kind man who wouldn't have hurt this boy for anything. He is not the type at all to get impatient and act like an idiot like so many drivers do. It gets even worse when you know the man he killed was his cousin.
My friend who owned the truck is also devestated by the thought that he is partly responsible.
The SCDOT inspected and weighed the truck and found both truck and trailer to be in good condition, with properly adjusted brakes, though the truck was towing more than it's tow rating. The driver did not have a CDL, but he was an experienced driver with a good record. We don't know yet what the legal ramifications will be, for the owner or driver. There are comments on the local newspapers website calling for him to be charged with vehicular homicide.
This one few seconds has ruined 2 families lives, severely damaged another, if the legal system doesn't ruin the owner's too.
Guys, let's all remember, wether we are on the side of the road or in the truck, BE CAREFUL, it only takes a moment. Please include all these people in your prayers too, these are all good people in this tragedy.
Here is a story by the nearest tv station, 80 miles away, but the picture they show was taken nowhere near here, and most of the details, including the driver's name, are wrong.
http://www.wbtw.com/story/23117934/sc-construction-worker-killed-in-williamsburg-county-crash
This man was driving an F250, pulling a 10-ton gooseneck trailer loaded with pallets of feed. An SUV stopped by a flagman, and he couldn't stop in time. He tried to go around the SUV on the right, but the corner of the trailer clipped the back corner of the SUV, pushing it over the young flagger.
I'm not sure if the flagman stopped the SUV suddenly, like the pickup driver said, or if he was just a little too late noticing, but I guess there is really no way he's not at fault. I have known and worked with him for years, he is normally a very careful driver, and he is a kind man who wouldn't have hurt this boy for anything. He is not the type at all to get impatient and act like an idiot like so many drivers do. It gets even worse when you know the man he killed was his cousin.
My friend who owned the truck is also devestated by the thought that he is partly responsible.
The SCDOT inspected and weighed the truck and found both truck and trailer to be in good condition, with properly adjusted brakes, though the truck was towing more than it's tow rating. The driver did not have a CDL, but he was an experienced driver with a good record. We don't know yet what the legal ramifications will be, for the owner or driver. There are comments on the local newspapers website calling for him to be charged with vehicular homicide.
This one few seconds has ruined 2 families lives, severely damaged another, if the legal system doesn't ruin the owner's too.
Guys, let's all remember, wether we are on the side of the road or in the truck, BE CAREFUL, it only takes a moment. Please include all these people in your prayers too, these are all good people in this tragedy.
Here is a story by the nearest tv station, 80 miles away, but the picture they show was taken nowhere near here, and most of the details, including the driver's name, are wrong.
http://www.wbtw.com/story/23117934/sc-construction-worker-killed-in-williamsburg-county-crash