Got Bucked Off The Bronco (I Flipped), Taking Some Time To Recover, And Getting Back In The Saddle!

Friends; I appear to have danced with death and have come out alive on the other side. We were driving by Philly on the PA turnpike when a freak tornado/wind event blew us over. Not only did we flip, but we were also on top of a tall overpass. I don’t want to think about all the possibilities of being a few inches left or right, but it is still there.

While I was driving, suddenly and without warning, a wall of white appeared in front of me. I’ve driven through heavy rain, snow, and wind, but have never seen or want to see anything like it again. This wall was as loud as a train and the moment itself is one of the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had. After arriving on the scene, paramedics said they had received an emergency alert to seek shelter immediately due to a tornado a few minutes before getting the call about an overturned tractor trailer.

Currently, I am waiting in Springfield waiting until Wednesday. I had originally scheduled time to be home sometime this week, so once I get the accident stuff out of the way I should be able to go home as originally planned.

Because of the freak nature of the event, I am not disqualified from driving for Prime. In other circumstances, knowingly driving through dangerous weather is grounds for termination. I loved what I was doing and saw it as a great opportunity to provide for my family. I am not even sure I should consider this event at all because of how random it was, but now that it has definitely happened it will lead to some soul searching.

I was knocked out for a bit and my back is hurting something fierce when I turn, but Prime has been great about scheduling visits with a physician and I already started a few rounds of physical therapy. My co-driver was not so lucky; he was in the sleeper and fractured his collarbone. He will be out at least a month or more. Myself, my family is worried about my safety. As I mentioned here and to them, this was such an out of the ordinary accident, I won't even consider this being due to trucking, but a literal act of God.

Wow how scary. Glad to hear it wasn’t worse. Wish you the best on a speedy recovery.

This is the second random attack on Prime vehicles by mother nature I've heard of directly from the victims. The last one was on a dashboard cam.

That's something else, Jay. Can't tell you the odds of it ever happening again but I would hope never again.

The soul searching is yours alone, but naturally I want you to accomplish what you set out to accomplish.

Intense photo. Yet someone in a car back behind you is probably complaining about trucks always hogging the left lane or something.

That's Delaware County, PA on the Blue Route AKA i-476 at the Route 1 exit. Glad you are ok... It was a wild day around here.

Local news story

https://cbsloc.al/2tCa7DZ

IIRC, it's an off camber curve too. heading south. you come down a grade onto the overpass

Friends; I appear to have danced with death and have come out alive on the other side. We were driving by Philly on the PA turnpike when a freak tornado/wind event blew us over. Not only did we flip, but we were also on top of a tall overpass. I don’t want to think about all the possibilities of being a few inches left or right, but it is still there.

While I was driving, suddenly and without warning, a wall of white appeared in front of me. I’ve driven through heavy rain, snow, and wind, but have never seen or want to see anything like it again. This wall was as loud as a train and the moment itself is one of the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had. After arriving on the scene, paramedics said they had received an emergency alert to seek shelter immediately due to a tornado a few minutes before getting the call about an overturned tractor trailer.

Currently, I am waiting in Springfield waiting until Wednesday. I had originally scheduled time to be home sometime this week, so once I get the accident stuff out of the way I should be able to go home as originally planned.

Because of the freak nature of the event, I am not disqualified from driving for Prime. In other circumstances, knowingly driving through dangerous weather is grounds for termination. I loved what I was doing and saw it as a great opportunity to provide for my family. I am not even sure I should consider this event at all because of how random it was, but now that it has definitely happened it will lead to some soul searching.

I was knocked out for a bit and my back is hurting something fierce when I turn, but Prime has been great about scheduling visits with a physician and I already started a few rounds of physical therapy. My co-driver was not so lucky; he was in the sleeper and fractured his collarbone. He will be out at least a month or more. Myself, my family is worried about my safety. As I mentioned here and to them, this was such an out of the ordinary accident, I won't even consider this being due to trucking, but a literal act of God.

I would think the very fact that your truck flipped INTO the curve rather that to the outside shows it sure as hell wasn't your fault!

Wow! This is so scary. Glad you are okay though and didn't suffer anything to major. Take your time, clear your thoughts and heal up.

Ironically enough, I-476, aka The Blue Route, passes through Springfield PA in this section of the road. Been on this road hundreds of times...

Glad you are okay Jay.

Dude.....God was looking out for you brother.....rest up. I'd be shaken to the point of reconsidering my decision too.

Wow!! Glad you are alright, wish you and your trainer a speedy recovery. That is crazy, I saw that on the news. They posted tornado and straight line wind warnings at around 10:30 am. The wind was really nasty. I live 10 mins from there and weather like that is pretty rare for this area, summer time maybe, unheard of in February.