Yet another use for a toy hauler...

[ATCguy]

... mobile triage unit. :/

Traveling north, and had just crossed over the summit on US-191 in Utah... north of Price, south of Duchesne (elevation 8,140')... and entered a construction zone. A few miles ahead, traffic was stopped on an 8% descending grade as we waited. I sat there for 5 minutes before anyone else came down the hill... and thinking of what could happened, I had my flashers on.

First a car, then a pickup slowed behind me... and then a semi truck. Relaxing a bit now, I just kicked back and rested a bit. Then.... BAM!!!

Looked in my mirror and saw what happened. A 2nd semi evidently didn't see us stopped, and plowed into the first.

Driver was mangled a bit (compound fracture lower left arm, multiple face lacerations, cuts & bruises both legs)... but was conscious and able to crawl out. I opened the rig, grabbed towels and remembered the combat first-aid I was taught many moons ago back in Parris Island. Between the other drivers, construction workers, and I, we got him sat down in the office chair in the back of my rig, stopped the bleeding, cleaned & wrapped the wounds best we could, and waited for EMS to arrive (very remote area, well over 45 minutes). Some others and I grabbed water from their coolers and my refrigerator, and kept everyone hydrated.

Could've been way worse. Driver of the first semi (shaken a bit, but not hurt) said he saw the other guy coming in his mirror... had his flashers going too... but saw the other truck wasn't slowing. Knowing he was gonna get hit, he turned his steering wheel hard left... so when the other truck plowed into him, his semi went left into the other lane instead of into the back of the car & pickup ahead of him and behind me (both of which had kids in them). A VERY nice heads-up move by him, or things may have turned out differently.

I hope it never has to be used for such ever again...

[Gearheadzs]

Holy cow! Glad to hear not more were injured and your rig is OK and you were able to lend a hand.
Your story is why I like to leave some room between me and the car in front of me and keep an eye on my rear/side view mirrors as much as possible, almost got taken out last year as well.

Gear

[lcv800]

Good of you to stop. So many people wouldn't have. Glad you and the rig dodged a bullet.
Rusty

[HornedToad]

Saw this pic on FB from my paratrooper buddy right after I read your post... glad all made it through!!!




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[CSCLARK]

So cool to see a fellow veteran helping out. Congrats on an outstanding accomplishment, well done and the safety of your rig and family. Thanks for your service too!

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[EricNSTL]

Very nice!

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[snakebitten]

What an amazingly close call for so many people.
Could have been so different.

Good reminder to smell the roses tomorrow.

[joebedford]

Well done!

[Its4]

Very fortunate you were able to help out. It appears it could have been much worse. Is that a flammable sign on the front of the semi that crashed?

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Its4

Very fortunate you were able to help out. It appears it could have been much worse. Is that a flammable sign on the front of the semi that crashed?

Yup, I pulled the code he was hauling crude oil... and they worry about train wrecks!

Aaron

[ATCguy]

Actually, the tanker was empty. I thought maybe he couldn't get stopped on the steep grade because of the weight... but that wasn't it.

The first semi was hauling flowers...

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

Actually, the tanker was empty. I thought maybe he couldn't get stopped on the steep grade because of the weight... but that wasn't it.

The first semi was hauling flowers...

Not sure about the crude carriers, but I know the guys that haul gasoline don't like empty tankers because the fumes are more flammable than the liquid.

Aaron