by INFORUM
Grand Forks crash witness says semi ran red light
January 5, 2011 at 6:00 pm in INFORUM
Authorities continue to study investigative reports regarding fatal accident
GRAND FORKS Michael Colley saw the Dec. 22 collision that took the lives of two small children just west of Grand Forks and, like other witnesses, is pretty sure what happened. The veteran over-the-road trucker said it was clear a fellow trucker made a mistake at what appears to be a dangerous intersection, Colley said. Continue Reading
Sadly, somehow I just can’t help but think of ND and its infamous $20 fines.
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Well I hope the truck driver gets one and learns his lesson.
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I’m glad you brought that up, because if that truck driver would have been facing a large fine for his violation, he probably wouldn’t have wanted to kill that family.
Nice comment.
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Are you sure he wanted to kill those two children? Were you there and do you know all the facts about this accident? Maybe we should wait until all the facts are released before we judge.
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Maybe if you had as many brain cells as you do teeth in your avatar picture, you’d have sensed my sarcasm.
I’m saying that despite any amount of fines a driver would face, this is not something people strive for.
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Oh jeez,hold up there Mikey, I think you’re misunderstanding what Auntie Palin is saying. He thinks he DIDN’T want to kill those kids there.
Also, to Auntie Palin. All the facts are already released to the one and only judge…Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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Why a criminal investigation? All the trucker did was run a red light. Give him a twenty dollar fine and send him on his way. (Very heavy sarcasm) This type of driving is encouraged by our state legislature and court system.
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I echo the last sentence of your comment. The state legislatures’ arrogance and indifference towards the seriousness of items such as DUI’s and traffic laws are nauseating. Their Third Reich law on controlling local traffic fine limitations breeds contempt of traffic laws. Why bother with fines at all at those low levels?
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The driver of this semi should be charged with 2 counts of murder. Lock him up and throw away the key.
This is just another example of semi tractor drivers thinking they own the road, and pushing the limits of driving, in a greedy attempts at doing their job faster and less safe.
And here we have a prime example of the damage they can do when they take these risks.
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“Lock him up and throw away the key.”
Although it was a tragic accident, I don’t think imprisonment for life is the answer. Some jail time? Perhaps. But when a person’s actions result in loss of human life, I don’t think a life sentence is ever appropriate unless that person acted with the intent to murder.
The truck driver is not someone who deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars because of this. Take a deep breath, Biohazardous, and think about what you are proposing. A life sentence would be very unjust.
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Correction Bio- “This is just another example of SOME semi tractor drivers thinking they own the road.”
I am an OTR truck driver, In my 6 years of being out here never once have I thought I ‘own’ the road. Driving an 80,000 pound vehicle is not like driving a Miata.
I am proud of my safety record, no accidents/incidents, no citations, no out of service DOT inspections. I pre-trip my vehicle everyday. I abide by the rules of the road. My CDL license is my livelihood, it’s what provides for my family. I do not think I own the road, I do not push my limits, nor my luck for that matter. I do my job professionally and with respect to the law and others around me. It doesn’t matter how fast or slow I do my job, I make the same amount. So please don’t speak for ALL of Americas PROFESSIONAL truck drivers, something Mr Nelson clearly was not.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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And I’ve had more than one trucker help me out while on the road. For example, when I was driving a huge (for me!) moving van across country, truckers all along the way signaled me when it was safe to change lanes. Another time, an angel actually drove his truck 20 miles to the nearest town to buy an alternator belt for me when mine broke on the highway, and he fixed it so I could finish my trip. So thanks to all the good guys out there!
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Not fair. Yes, some are not good but the vast majority are responsible.
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I am not excusing what this driver did, but sit at any stop light intersection here in Fargo for a half hour and count how many vehicles are “pushing the limits of driving” and running red lights. One time I counted six vehicles that entered the intersection AFTER the light turned red. Seems like the prevailing attitude is that yellow means step on it not slow down and prepare to stop.
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The difference Justme, is that when an 80,000 lb semi runs a red light, by the very nature of their size and weight they REALLY need to blow the light in order to make it thru in time. They can’t just speed up 4 mph, and accelerate thru a yellow light that turns red.
For a semi to run a red light, they likely are already moving at a good clip, recognize the light is turning, and if they decide to make a decision to “make it” thru a light, they need to commit to moving that 80,000 lb vehicle at that moment, and decide to try speeding up even further.
Go look at the news article again, and the eye witness account from the other semi driver. This guy was FLYING thru the intersection. I’m betting it will come out in further testimony that the light was clearly red for at least 2 seconds before the semi even entered the intersection. Consider for a moment that this poor van was broadsided in the center of the intersection, and then consider how long the light for the semi was red, for the van to already be in the intersection. Now factor in the amount of speed that was reported.
This was not some silly comparison to a vehicle that tries to make it thru a yellow light turning red. Your example of 6 vehicles entering an intersection after the light going red is an extreme example. Does it happen with one vehicle every light. Probably so. But don’t overexaggerate to belabor a point.
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Believe me I know the difference between a big rig and a car. And yes I do know the difference in the damage a big rig can do vs the damage a car can do. But I was not exagerating. Yes six was the most I have seen but it is almost every intersection. These cars that try to make it through on a yellow are doing the same thing. Instead of slowing down and preparing to stop they are stepping on the gas. So then by the time the actually get to the intersection and it turns red then yes they can not stop at that point. But it was their decision to speed up instead of slow down. Same thing.
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You’re right, Justme. That’s the way it is in Fargo-Moorhead – drive 10 mph under the speed limit, year-round, but when approaching a yellow light, gun-it-and-run-it.
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I do have to question weather or not the light had turned green and why was a trucker looking down @ a computer while still in motion and not pulled over. Maybe it was red when he was approaching but had changed to green while he was looking down.
These are sad accidents when they do happen, however Its not wise to jump to conclusions until all the facts are heard. Based on what this trucker stated it was red as he approached but he was looking down and still in motion so was no looking out @ the light when the accident occurred. And why did he not stay @ the accident to assist or tell his story then? Why now?
I think this guy should be sighted for using a computer while a vehicle was in motion. I’m sure there is some citation that would cover that as well.
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There’s a difference between looking down at a computer and actually touching/using a computer. Maybe you should be cited for using your stereo while your driving, or even your phone? Maybe cite you for looking at your speedometer? Distracted driving is a very sticky topic, where and with what does it end, almost everything is a distraction while your driving. And with technology advancing more and more everyday, that technology requires more and more driver input on a continuing basis. I encourage everyone to get in a truck for a day and ride along with a trucker to see what happens while you’re out and about. Better yet, just drive one 400ft down the road, it’s a totally different world.
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My grandfather was an OTR trucker and I road with him many times. So yes I do know how many of the drivers are out there as well as how good a majority are. Its those few that are from out of state that really cause some issues with impressions of truckers. Or the Trans systems drivers are some of the worst.
But my main point is that he was not looking out @ the time of the accident he only knew what the light was before and then probably didnt see weather or not the light had changed.
When I have witnessed an accident I stay around or call 911 and report exactly what I saw immediately. I usually call as I am either on the move away from the scene or I have no ability to stay as on interstate moving or in heavy traffic.
I have respect for Truck drivers as that has been ingrained into me unless they are being reckless and in that case I call the # on the trailer.
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Let us all learn from this sad situation, drive defensivly. A life depends on it.
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Let us all learn from this sad situation, Drive Defensivly. A life depends on it.
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Montec,
First, there were other witnesses who saw the trucker run the red light. Second, if you read the article again, it clearly states that the truck involved in the accident, was already entering the intersection as the other trucker (the one who was the witness) was slowing down to stop at the newly-turned-red light. He saw the flashing “be prepared to stop” light and was slowing down and it was at that point the other truck was already entering the intersection. Those signs/lights are there to prevent this exact kind of accident. They are placed far enough from the intersection to give everyone the chance to slow and stop SAFELY and they blink for quite a while before the light turns red.
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The signs/lights that are there are barely minimum to prevent accidents–North Dakota was supposed to put an overpass there but when our esteemed legislature saw the price tag they opted for lights. Once again go North Dakota–you may have a big surplus but you forgot the premise of government is for the people and we aren’t paying taxes for you to sit on them.
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I just cant understand how the driver of the van didn’t see the semi. I’m not saying it was his fault but I drive by that intersection almost every day twice a day. I see many people running that light and always look before I enter the intersection especially in the winter.
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I agree shanko. To me, it indicates that possibly this semi was really moving along, and that the van driver didn’t recognize the excessive speed of the oncoming vehicle, and it was probably moving along, so sight lines were limited more than normal due to snow or some other factor. Anytime you have a vehicle grossly exceeding the speed limit, the average driver doesn’t recognize the danger that the vehicle coming at them is moving faster than normal. Most drivers simply glance to see if any vehicles are a perceived distance away from the intersection, and then seeing said vehicle is 500 yards away, proceed forward believing they are safe. Normally, they are.
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I too drive this intersection every single day. I see cars/trucks clearly running the red light at least 1 time per week. Honestly, I’ve even seen cops sitting there patrolling the road while the reds are being run and not doing anything (maybe they weren’t looking?). But yes, I agree with your comment that he probably saw the semi “x” number of feet away and assumed it was stopping. I know myself at this intersection every time I approach HWY 2, I eyeball every single vehicle before I turn on a green so that I know for sure that they are stopping, I’ve witnessed too many close calls (and 1 other accident) to take anything for granted.
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