Crash

Google Map of the crash site

if you look at the map, i was going west on hwy 30 and a jeep was going east. i just past red dog road when the jeep turns in front of me, and i hit it. i have been trying to figure out what i could have done different to avoid it. i see nothing i could have done. i was only doing about 40 mph at the time. my question is, would you expect the jeep to just turn in front of you like that?

i received no tickets and we both walked away. amazing enough, he drove away after he got his ticket from the police. my truck had to be towed only because the headlight and marker lights where gone. the officer told me not to drive it that way.

Jeep driver wasn't drunk? I used to live less than 20 miles from there.

What was he issued the citation for - Failure To Yield Right Of Way?

I'm assuming he turned left in front of you from 30 onto Red Dog Road - and you T-Boned him?

Probably not a whole lot you could have done to avoid, if this was the case. Do you have a dash cam (driver or company installed)?

Because the cop required you to be towed (even though the accident didn't make the truck "disabled", aside from being legally OOS because of the lighting), this is a DOT reportable accident.

From the sounds of it, and the look of the intersection - the other driver could only see about 50 yards down the road (blind curve), if he flew into the turn without stopping to check traffic, both of you had about 3 seconds when you came around the curve and that intersection became visible to you to the point where you were into it.

Rick

I had just past red dog road when he turned in front of me, and he was sober. he said his brakes failed, but i don't understand why he would turn in front of me in that case.

He said his brakes failed and he drive it away? You'd think the cop might have objected to that too.

I think there was something wrong with him, he told the cop his friend was on the way with a tow truck. after everyone was gone, he drove away. i figured he will get caught eventually.

Looking at the map, there's no intersection or driveway just west of Red Dog Rd. for the eastbound Jeep to turn left into/onto. I'm assuming he came across the center line and hit you mostly head on then? I've investigated many accidents in my previous career and such an accident would suggest to me 1. Driver fell asleep and crossed center line; 2. Driver distracted by texting/food/cigarettes etc. and crossed center line; 3. Attempted suicide. 4 Excessive speed causing loss of steering and vehicle to plow through curve, but this usually causes the rear wheels to slide out of the curve and you would have hit more on the driver side of the Jeep. 5. Impaired driver. Given the fact he walked/drove away, #4 doesn't seem likely. What time of day was it - if it was morning, could the sun have been in his eyes?

The likely ticket issued would be for operating left of center line and/or distracted driving. Possibly upgraded to careless driving as an accident resulted.

The comment he made about his brakes failing is common - often times drivers claim faulty brakes to explain accidents or stop sign/semaphore violations. In that case, the officer should have either towed the vehicle or directed the owner/driver to tow it and not drive it until repaired. That may have happened. I had several instances over the years where people told me they'd been experiencing brake problems prior to accidents or stop sign/semaphore violations in an attempt to get out of the tag. I would then cite them for careless driving as they knowingly operated a vehicle with a brake defect. Then, I'd tow the car. This will all be cleared up when you and/or your company gets a copy of the police report. Let us know how it turns out.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5904819,-80.5079352,243a,23.8y,90.11h,45.77t/data=!3m1!1e3 if you look at the map, i was going west on hwy 30 and a jeep was going east. i just past red dog road when the jeep turns in front of me, and i hit it. i have been trying to figure out what i could have done different to avoid it. i see nothing i could have done. i was only doing about 40 mph at the time. my question is, would you expect the jeep to just turn in front of you like that?

i received no tickets and we both walked away. amazing enough, he drove away after he got his ticket from the police. my truck had to be towed only because the headlight and marker lights where gone. the officer told me not to drive it that way.

I'm glad you are ok. you can't help it if another driver does something stupid.

What was he issued the citation for - Failure To Yield Right Of Way?

I'm assuming he turned left in front of you from 30 onto Red Dog Road - and you T-Boned him?

Probably not a whole lot you could have done to avoid, if this was the case. Do you have a dash cam (driver or company installed)?

Because the cop required you to be towed (even though the accident didn't make the truck "disabled", aside from being legally OOS because of the lighting), this is a DOT reportable accident.

From the sounds of it, and the look of the intersection - the other driver could only see about 50 yards down the road (blind curve), if he flew into the turn without stopping to check traffic, both of you had about 3 seconds when you came around the curve and that intersection became visible to you to the point where you were into it.

Rick

Daniel C...you may want to check with your safety department. I think you may be required to do a drug test within a certain number of days. Just thinking if Rick correctly stated it's DOT reportable. There was another driver fired, not for rolling his truck, but for failure to get tested. Good luck

Daniel C...you may want to check with your safety department. I think you may be required to do a drug test within a certain number of days. Just thinking if Rick correctly stated it's DOT reportable. There was another driver fired, not for rolling his truck, but for failure to get tested. Good luck

FMCSA - Post Accident - What tests are required and when does testing occur?

Had either driver been taken away in an ambo or vehicles been towed - and DANIEL got a citation - he would have had to test, pretty much IMMEDIATELY (for alcohol, within 2 hours).

So while it IS a DOT Reportable (because he had to be towed), since HE wasn't cited - no test required. Though his company/insurance may want a test (and they typically DO following an accident) - it is not required by FMCSA Regs in this case.

I had just past red dog road when he turned in front of me, and he was sober. he said his brakes failed, but i don't understand why he would turn in front of me in that case.

So he was coming in the opposite direction on 30, and tried to turn IN FRONT OF YOU ONTO RED DOG, after you had pretty much passed it already? I'm not getting where HE was trying to go, if you were already past Red Dog.

Either way - glad you're OK. Hopefully they get your lights fixed quickly and get you on down the road.

Rick