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Location: Grayson Co. Texas | If you were hoping it would fly under the radar, it might not now. 16 yr old driving volvo w/lq trailer http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Teen-behind-wheel-of-big-rig-that-killed-two-women-162541736.html |
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Expert
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Location: Vermont | He's from LA...they were on the road from OK to CO...No farm rules are in effect here...he's in violation of lots of Federal CDL laws...:( |
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Location: Central Arkansas | The truck was a chopped axle over the road Volvo tractor. It had full air brakes, but no DOT numbers. Trailer was fully self contained LQ without air brakes. The truck did not have NOT FOR HIRE anywhere on it. It actually had LA Farm tags. They were ropers headed to another Championship Jr. rodeo in WY. It is just a sad deal for all parties involved. My thoughts & prayers for the families. |
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Location: New Salem, ND | I just heard of this horrific accident.
I pull a 43ft custom Featherlight with a dodge 3500 dually. There is no way I could turn a teanager loose with that big of an outfit. It is so different driving cross country thru traffic and God only knows what else. A kid that age would not have the ability to react, no matter how much experience he/she has on their home place or within a rural state.
Whatever laws are in your state of residence no longer are in effect once you leave that state, especially when it pertains to minors driving. Federal laws are very specific reguarding age requirements when driving a vehicle of this size.
I am so very sorry for all parties involved. the 2 women who lost their lives, their families, the young man who has to live with this, and for the father and his poor decisions. My prayers are with them all.
I hope we all look at this and make choices to prevent this type of accident from ocurring again!! And yes, it trully was an accident, no-one would deliberately choose this...
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Texas |
I'm kind of confused by the If you were hoping it would fly under the radar, it might not now line.... this has been all over the news here in TX, as the women killed were from the Dallas area. So, what am I missing here?
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Location: 03303 | And to see how confused the motor vehicle laws are, see http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21089804/louisiana-officials-say-...
Near as I can tell, in Louisiana the kid needed a CDL-A to operate the vehicle, even as a personal vehicle. And all the kid had was a regular operator's license.
However, in Colorado, as long as the vehicle was in personal and not commercial use, his regular operator's license was fine. Unless the Colorado state police can prove that the vehicle was used for any commercial purposes, he was legal to drive.
Best of luck,
Jim Clark-Dawe
Edited by equinetransport 2012-07-17 9:08 AM
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Extreme Veteran
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Extreme Veteran
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| What a terrible tragedy. I haven't read any details about how the accident occured. I personally don't think age is the problem. He was driving legally in Colorado on what I consider a safe stretch of interstate - straight, relatively-level, lower traffic and wide open. My guess is that he has more experience driving such a rig that many people who drive them. The poor judgment in having him leave the scene and being untruthful with the police is a problem. My condolences to the family who lost loved ones. Just a terrible, terrible accident. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: TN | I don't think ANY 16 year old could have the experience it takes to drive that rig safely- especially on an interstate! I wouldn't want a 16 year old driving my 4 horse lq and one ton truck either, but hey, maybe that's just me! The parents in this situation created a horrible situation for this child to cope with- yes, he is a child!!! |
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Location: Illinois | ^^^ I totally agree, 16 isnt old enough to have experience in pulling a rig such as that...obviously, by the choice the kid made right after the accident..that is immaturity at its finest. a choice he is going to have to live with the rest of his life... very very sad situation |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Texas | Not knowing the kid, and how he was raised around trucks, tractors and other large "machines" I'm not judging if he was experienced enough or not. A neighbor has a son who is 15, and has been working the hay equipment since he was big enough to reach the controls, and helping bale, run the tractors etc. He also knows how to drive the 18 wheeler. Better I would guess, than many who go to some truck driving school, and pass their CDL to "legally" get behind the wheel, and hit the road.
Poor judgement on the fault of his dad, who did not thing straight in a panic of the situation.
No one wins....
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Location: Vermont | Originally written by brushycreekranch on 2012-07-16 8:53 PM
The truck was a chopped axle over the road Volvo tractor. It had full air brakes, but no DOT numbers. Trailer was fully self contained LQ without air brakes. The truck did not have NOT FOR HIRE anywhere on it. It actually had LA Farm tags. They were ropers headed to another Championship Jr. rodeo in WY. It is just a sad deal for all parties involved. My thoughts & prayers for the families.
They are pushing the envelope of Farm Tag usage base on LA law...
http://dpsweb.dps.louisiana.gov/omv1.nsf/58c968bd569b099986256cdc00... |
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| I am certainly not trying to imply blame on the part of the women here because it was such a sad thing to happen,but,was their vehicle adequately off of the road? we had to swerve into the other lane once pulling a stock trailer (thank goodness not our LQ) because a guy had a flat and was barely off of the edge of the lane.All that the info from the story gave was that they had a flat tire they were trying to change. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: TN | In my opinion, it does not matter where the women were. A sixteen year old has no business being behind the wheel of a rig like that on an interstate! I also don't put the blame solely on the child. His father was in the truck with him and had him leave the scene of an accident. That is certainly not parenting at its finest! |
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Location: 03303 | Originally written by crowleysridgegirl on 2012-07-17 9:27 PM
I am certainly not trying to imply blame on the part of the women here because it was such a sad thing to happen,but,was their vehicle adequately off of the road? we had to swerve into the other lane once pulling a stock trailer (thank goodness not our LQ) because a guy had a flat and was barely off of the edge of the lane.All that the info from the story gave was that they had a flat tire they were trying to change.
Slow down. Get in the hammer lane. It's the law in a lot of states for emergency vehicles. It's a good idea for any vehicle.
People are stupid. Don't let their stupidity take you down in an accident. The best way to survive any accident is to avoid the thing.
Best of luck,
Jim Clark-Dawe
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Location: Central Arkansas | Hey Paul, since you are so good at finding the DMV stuff, here's a question for you. If they were in a 4500 or M2 with disc brakes and regular plates, would the kids standard DL be enough since he was pulling a self container LQ trailer? Take the leaving the scene out it. |
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Extreme Veteran
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| I just think there isn't enough information in this article to know what happened. A factor that seems significant to me is the time of the accident. I've always thought dawn and dusk were times when visibility is the worst. Also, at 6:30 am, there seems to be a possibility of driver fatigue. The women's car wasn't hit, was it? Just the women? Just such a terrible tragedy for their family, for both really, but the women and their family had such a tragic loss.
I'm not willing to attribute it to the driver's age without a lot more information. And, knowing the highway very well, I just don't think his driving on that highway should have been a problem for even someone with little experience. |
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Location: Central Arkansas | http://cdn.optmd.com/V2/76675/195817/index.html?g=Af////8=&r=www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21089804/louisiana-officials-say-teen-fatal-colorado-accident-not I'm told by my DOT person, that, the fact, that, the truck in the accident, had air brakes is a game changer. |
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Elite Veteran
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| While this is a terrible event- what I think was meant by the radar comment was the issue of inexperienced drivers driving very large equipment by using the RV or farm truck rationale. I'm not sure it is much different than some of the 80 year olds I've seen driving huge RV buses. |
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Location: centrally located amongst the "NUTS" | http://dpsweb.dps.louisiana.gov/omvpubs.nsf/8bad5589175b8981862575f20048ee65/1e8c6d58881444a9862575f20060970f/$FILE/2270%20LA%20CDL%20Driver's%20Manual%20R0510.pdf This has a 2005 Rev date. Pay particular attention to RS32:408 B.(2)(E) and 405.1, Class E Farm use. He must be 17 and within 150 miles from home. People will never learn, that car could have been sitting directly in the lane and a driver still is responsible to avoid a collision. It is call having an assurred clear distance ahead (ASDA). |
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Veteran
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Location: illinois | This is so sad so many families have been touched by this. But at the end of the day it was an accident. This 16 year old child will have to live with this the rest of his life,I only hope he gets the help he will need now and in the future. My family was touched by a tragic accident my brother was the driver,no one was killed just hurt that changed her life for ever. Let's just say he could not live with his self. We all must try to walk a mile in their shoes. God Bless them all. |
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Expert
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Location: Vermont | Originally written by brushycreekranch on 2012-07-18 8:50 AM Hey Paul, since you are so good at finding the DMV stuff, here's a question for you. If they were in a 4500 or M2 with disc brakes and regular plates, would the kids standard DL be enough since he was pulling a self container LQ trailer? Take the leaving the scene out it.
Edited by PaulChristenson 2012-07-18 11:57 PM
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Elite Veteran
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| P>If the law decides to prosecute them as a commercial op...then it wouldn't matter what type of vehicle he was in...all that would happen is they'd get tickets for no USDOT numbers, no log books, no fire extinguisher,he'd get a ticket for operating a commercial vehicle involved in INTERSTATE commerce, et cetera...a NASTY DOT enforcement stop could result in up to 10 separate tickets not even involving the accident...:(
Paul- my understanding was that one caught operating a CMV without the apprpriate CDL license was a mandatory 30 day jail term. Have you seen or heard this? |
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Location: Vermont | Originally written by horsey1 on 2012-07-19 7:57 AM<BR><BR>P> If the law decides to prosecute them as a commercial op...then it wouldn't matter what type of vehicle he was in...all that would happen is they'd get tickets for no USDOT numbers, no log books, no fire extinguisher,he'd get a ticket for operating a commercial vehicle involved in INTERSTATE commerce, et cetera...a NASTY DOT enforcement stop could result in up to 10 separate tickets not even involving the accident...:(Paul- my understanding was that one caught operating a CMV without the apprpriate CDL license was a mandatory 30 day jail term. Have you seen or heard this?
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/cdl/cdl.htm http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Violations/cdl_chart.pdf
Edited by PaulChristenson 2012-07-19 10:37 AM
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Expert
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Location: Vermont | Penalties: The Federal penalty to a driver who violates the CDL requirements is a civil penalty of up to $2,500 or, in aggravated cases, criminal penalties of up to $5,000 in fines and/or up to 90 days in prison. An employer is also subject to a penalty of up to $10,000, if (s)he knowingly uses a driver to operate a CMV without a valid CDL.
Edited by PaulChristenson 2012-07-19 10:40 AM
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Location: centrally located amongst the "NUTS" | From the article: “He didn’t need a commercial license; it had one axle,” Lydia Martin, Tristan’s aunt, told the Denver Post. I must have missed in my FMCSA Haandbook where single axle trucks do not require a CDL. All of the guys that have been cited in there 1 tons need to be aware of this. Those two axles on the trk most likely have a combined rating of 32,000, maybe more if the steer is over 12,000. The trl is rated for at least 15,000. A Class A for commercial use vehicle. In my state you can operate that vehicle with Class D (basic DL) if it is an RV or farm use. I cant believe that they did not charge him with a negligent manslaughter type of charge. I'm not familiar with CO stautes or codes, whatever they use, maybe that would have to go to a grand jury. |
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| Originally written by cutter99 on 2012-07-18 5:52 AM In my opinion, it does not matter where the women were. A sixteen year old has no business being behind the wheel of a rig like that on an interstate! I also don't put the blame solely on the child. His father was in the truck with him and had him leave the scene of an accident. That is certainly not parenting at its finest! Yes,I agree,but,that is not the matter that I was asking about.
Edited by crowleysridgegirl 2012-07-19 10:53 PM
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16 yr old kills 2 pulling horse trailer
