Fatality rollover on Donner Pass Sept 8, 2008

[moongrl33]

I am always the slowest one down the hill ... Me and my truck make it down the hill safely. Prayers to the ffamilies

[friskylane]

I posted your video on my blog friskylane.blogspot.com

[fervin1]

Did he died?

[doodiddy03]

that fool didnt take that curve right ..should have followed the truck in front of him..Sad..

[sniperjdp]

This is not Donner, it is 4 miles east of Colfax. Since this wreck Caltrans has constructed a cement barrier on this curve to keep out of control vehicles from going over the side and a huge electronic sign with radar that displays your speed just before the curve.

[jaytime08]

Hey everyone needs to calm down, he wasnt trying to speed, He took his truck out of gear and every truck driver knows that when that happens that u cannot get it back into gear while going downhill, and we have air brakes not hydrolic like cars, so its not easy to jyst stop. Now the reason this happened was because he was a rookie who tried to get into a lower gear but couldnt and while heading downhill he sped up and lost control

[woodardjd]

@liberalinthedesertaz As to your last statement, nobody ever stated that all truck crashes were caused by cars. It's only about ~72% of fatal truck crashes and ~64% of all truck crashes.

[woodardjd]

@liberalinthedesertaz The "idiot truck driver", as you so eloquently called him, wasn't so much an idiot. he was a student, having had his CDL a grand total of 8 days the day of the crash. The idiot was the driver/trainer who opted to go to sleep and leave his trainee to negotiate a hazardous pass instead of taking the pass himself. He died as well.

[Jmassa54]

The location is about a mile west of the Lake Collins exit #139. There is an electric message sign on the left hand curve. The guard rail has been replaced with a concrete K rail. 55 mph is a safe speed if you are smooth in the turn. He goes in too fast and then jerks the truck left while applying the brakes.

[liberalinthedesertaz]

Apparently the idiot truck driver didnt know that he needed to slow down before the turn there. I also have to say that I have a small car so I can hit that corner at a much higher rate of speed then that truck ever could, since I am lighter, have a lower profile AND have had my car since 1998 so I KNOW it's limits. This idiot found the limits out the hard way and in such an unsafe manner. So cars cutting off trucks cause all the accidents I DON"T THINK SO, there was proof right there.

[Tex5x5]

Can anybody tell me what Mile Marker this was?

[swishasweets06]

i only drove truck for a cpl months and drove that road 2 times

[Prem26211]

What trainer worth his salt lets a trainee tackle that road? That's just a bad decision.

[bapabob]

As the taillights of the crash trailer come into view, no brakes are on. When the student hit the brakes (way too late) that is when it begins its death roll. You have to brake early, keep the speed under control because once it is above control, you aren't going to get it back going down hill. New drivers think going slow is boring. This video should be mandatory to watch for EVERY truck driver in America both new and experienced. It's never too late for a safety reminder for you old dogs.

[19or50]

probly a crengland driver

[mdl80271]

when i trained, my trainer told me exactly where the tough spots were, where to pull over before them, and wait till he was ready to to help me thru em.

[Sk8onbye09]

This is exactly why i fear my dad on the road :( not his driving but if that driver filming would have been up further a few feet that other truck would have takin him out too!!!

[jeepers2655]

even the clown in the pickup almost lost it!.......veered into other lane.

[liberalinthedesertaz]

@jeepers2655 have you ever been almost hit by a semi that was speeding? he ws probably trying to get the fuck out of his way.

[jeepers2655]

@liberalinthedesertaz .....guess I would too!

[ratkins08]

ANOTHER inexperienced driver responsible for his own actions.Its a damn shame though it happens daily all across the country

[dixiewife47]

Sorry to hear that they were both killed.. I drove a semi myself for a few years, and the trainer shouldve been awake before the student got to the top of the hill. Maybe with him awake and telling the guy or gal what to do, they both wouldve still been alive today.

[evgeniy02141982]

its looks like he overheat the brakes !caz when hi passed the england truck ,almost sideswipe him ,he did even slowdown a bit +plus as he started tipingover you can see the sparks and lot of smoke -before he even hit the rails!i feel sorry for both drivers if they die!

i always remember the saying that my trainer told me a years ago:,,YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE A DOWNHILL 2SLOW ,MANY,MANY TIMES -BUT 2FAST IS ONLY ONES!

[canadiantimberwolf1]

Hey HighwayHank1- I've been watching this video for a bit now and seen the extended version where they show the unit involved. SPEED & IN-EXPERIENCE, is a cocktail that never mixes well. Why the trainer allowed this too happen is something we will never know. The death of both is sad as the families are now dealing with unanswered questions..Why Why Why. Hope all is well with you and Merry Christmas too you and yours.

[bigj200016]

when i trained drivers, i always told them to wake me up when they hit certain hills, namely donner, cabbage, vail, eisenhower, and I64 EB in WV just off the turnpike,

[2020starman]

just more assholes on the road

[3338MAN]

That guy in the roll over had just enough time to take his last dump, then lights out.

[Mooncooler1]

Trainee don't know anything. I bet he thought his rpg's was too high and the truck was making a lot of noise and shifted into the highest gear while going down the hill. It's the trainers fault. And it's a lot of this still going on today. 8 years ago my trainer did the same thing... went to sleep on me the 1st day and I had to go over Mount Eagle didn't pay no mind at the time but that was dangerous

[ptrhip]

some one in my old componey made this vid a componey called cr england

[ACELLOFAWARENESS]

I will NEVER be a trainer, despite having several degrees and high school teaching experience as qualifications. No amount of money can make me even think twice. if the public knew how little training and experience is required to get behind the wheel of a truck they would be 1) outraged, and 2) scared to death. It works fine for intelligent and responsible people, but the job itself does not draw many of them, it attracts and employs a high proportion of rejects, idiots, and morons.

[Mooncooler1]

It's bad out here

[Terrais]

I know the trucker driver whos camera that is.

The driver at the time was a trainee, and his trainer was in the back bunk.

Both the men in the truck died.

[roadhawg84]

i jus drove donner pass today. it does have alot of sharp curves. but speed is def a factor. slow is smooth smooth is fast

[haynes1776]

The driver who witness the truck rolling over did the right thing by not stoping in the middle of the road. instead, he moved pass the wreck to a saf spot on the shoulder and then help the driver out. Im a person that want to help people. i could not leave that driver to die.

[37santagertrudes]

how many people were in the truck that day ?

[zaphodb777]

Eternal Father of the ways,

With trucks they ply till the end of days,

With many miles over grades so steep,

Please keep their eyes from deadly sleep.

Oh, see how our hearts do burn,

For those we wish a safe return.

Amen

[Bobby0345]

wow

[HellBound8492]

i like how the camera guy drives through the crash and stops like 200 yds later. "Hmm think we should stop and try to help? No, well I guess I better"

[ShredaSpud]

You have to remember that the driver with the cam didn't want to just stop in middle of the road since the crash was on the right side of the road. If he had stopped immediately, he would have created a hazard. Rather he proceeded to find a safe spot, which happened to be just after the guard rail ended.

[brett959]

At 80 miles per hour it takes the length of a football field to stop a rig. He stopped as soon as he could!

[HellBound8492]

the federal speed limit for trucks is like 65

what the hell would he be doing 80 for..... oh thats right a rookie mistake i guess.

[brett959]

I miss typed and meant at 60 mph it takes the length of a football field to stop and I was refering to the guy with the camera not the idiot going to fast. The other thing is the trainer should not have been in the sleeper with a rookie going down donner.

[wiseguy61]

Actually. It takes the length of almost 2 football fields to stop @ 60mph. 540'. @ 60mph you traveling @ 90FPS. 1sec for perception. 1sec to react. 1sec for break lag (270 before the pads even make contact with the drums) another 270 to go from 60 to zero... 540'.

@ 65mph add 125' to stop.

[zaphodb777]

Funny, in Wyoming all vehicles, including trucks, can do 75 MPH. You must mean a California law, not Federal.

[tattoodtruckr]

there is no federal speed limit for commercial trucks.

get your facts right.

[earsneyes1]

@tattoodtruckr You're absolutely right, speed limits are set by each state. What we saw here is the reason that truckers need a raise. When you are barely covering your expenses and have to run harder to make ends meet, it just opens the door to taking more chances and causing more accidents. Take the rates back to when they were regulated ( 3.00-5.00/mile guaranteed ) and watch the accidents and risky behavior drop.

[jacksblack1]

@HellBound8492/ the sign on the curve said 55

[larrywanders]

There is no federal speed limit for trucks, it is dependent on individual states setting their own speed limits. 75 in Nebraska, 55 in California and everything in between for the remainder of the states.

[TheTruckdr]

In California it's 55

[hersheysanf]

damm poor guy he shouldve had causion it sucks going thru dat

[InterCity77]

stupid

[jebby16]

I guess the "Curve ahead" sign wasn't big enough. Slow down, knuckleheads?

[glsgreg]

has the CHP talked to the person in the white dodge pick-up ?

[theaz78]

Both drivers? I only see one truck and one driver???

[HighwayHank1]

The trainee driving and the trainer in the sleeper.

[TheLargecars]

@HighwayHank1 wow its true first one on the sight is a truck driver

[tsmith403]

both drivers killed men lost families

[aid2003]

I saw this before AND ITS STILL SHOCKING ME::

[KYLEMORICE]

THATS SOME SCARY

[aid2003]

I saw this one before...

Both drivers lost there life...

[circa61]

So sad

[shadowkodie203]

hey people the rookie was driving and the trainer was asleep. that road is steep and the semis are hard to control, you got to give them some credit.

[cevin11]

Not to mention in that particular section the turns are rated for 55 mph.

[Newfieguy89]

When are these people going to learn?? I feel sorry for them but I also feel like at least there is one less moron out there on the roads to feel threatened by.

[HighwayHank1]

I feel sorry for them also, but I couldn't agree more. He almost wiped out the poor trucker who's dashcam caught this accident.

I've driven that pass 100s of times & have always respected it. Not only was I always being passed by the "Super Trucker High Gear Haulers" and also berated by them with cute little CB saying "What's the matter Carretta, afraid of a little hill" And unless it was snow covered, I was never slower than the posted speed limit, or a little over depending on which section.

[ratkins08]

@Newfieguy89 right !!!! I agree 100%,I ve been over that hill,hunreds of times, and as long as you pay attn. to whats going on and know how to drive a truck ,you'll never have a problem !!!!!!!!!!!!!Trainer -Trainee is the problem...

[sajdrj]

@Newfieguy89 the first time I went down Donner I had a trainee, he still had 3hrs to drive but I would not let him drive it. 1st rule in trucking may be "don't hit anything", but the 1st rule in my truck was "don't kill me"

[TimAlanPayne]

Sadly both the rookie driver and his trainer both lost their lives.

[HighwayHank1]

Sorry to hear that. The person who sent me this, didn't give many details, just that it was a fatal. I just had to post it. I've driven that pass 100s of times and had several close calls, because of other drivers. Lucky for me, I had my truck under control.

[thomasmreece7262]

that shows how many know it alls are out there

[grumpyswede]

did the driver live???