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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Amigo on 25 July 2012, 20:33:53

Title: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: Amigo on 25 July 2012, 20:33:53
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178811/M62-crash-Man-woman-die-Audi-A5-collides-truck-Cleckheaton.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

   My mate was driving this truck. We work at the same place but were mates 2 years before i started there 8 years ago so not just a workmate. We rode our Bandits together, he's still got his. Anyway i just tried to phone him but it rang straight off. I phoned our Gaffer & he's out of hospital & at a police station but we don't know which one, Gaffer is waiting for a phone call & he'll go & collect him, sticks by us if we're in trouble, totally sound. You may remember a couple of years ago i posted here that i clipped a Renault, no injuries but it freaked me & bought home a reminder of the damage a truck can do, i still look in my mirrors more than i used to. Despite this i can't imagine how my mate's feeling. If he was at fault he's a tough bloke & will hold his hands up & face the music. Should this be the case i'll visit him & take in anything he's allowed until he's released & submit my address for his release as he could lose his house. If it turns out to be the car drivers fault i'm sure he'll still feel responsible for the loss of two lives & not want to climb behind the wheel of a truck again, i know i would'nt.

     I'll post none of this on facebook & have the biggest sympathies for the families & loved ones of those in the Audi regardless of fault two lives have been taken too early. I know how unbearable losing a loved one is.
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: Lazydocker on 25 July 2012, 22:43:03
Very sad indeed Guy. Hope your mate is ok and isn't too scarred by it all. I'm not going to speculate at all but have a suspicion how the investigation will go from the little that can be seen in the images.

Deepest condolences and thoughts have to go out to the families of all involved, particularly of the two fatalities.
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 26 July 2012, 05:42:22
Dreadful, hope your friend is ok & feel for the families of the deceased .
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: the alarming man on 26 July 2012, 09:55:36
very sad....but how does a lorry end up on it side???
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 July 2012, 14:43:13
very sad....but how does a lorry end up on it side???
High centre of gravity, especially tankers and containers, (containers simply because you have absolutely no idea of how they are packed), combined with sudden changes in speed and direction. This happens alot with tankers on roundabouts, where the driver has to turn more to avoid a collision with someone who has cut across without looking. Only takes a further quarter turn of the wheel to cause a rollover, leaving an embarrassed driver with a truck on its side for no obvious reason, the cause having long since left the scene. There is a school of thought which suggests not swerving, and having a minor bump to avoid having a much bigger one, this also keeps the cause at the scene :-X

In this situation, and this is purely a guess towards a possible chain of events, not what actually happened because that I definitely do not know;

Something significant happens just ahead of the lorry, say traffic slows markedly, causing the driver to swerve.  Or a tyre blows etc. This makes the whole thing unstable. At the same time someone travelling a bit too quickly arrives at a situation,  loses control and spins into the back corner of the already unstable trailer with enough force to roll it. A split second either way and a different outcome entirely.

If you watch the demonstration clip on the Roadhawk website, you'll see just how quickly a sudden, but slight lane change can roll a truck. :o

Either way Guy, hope your mate gets through ok, and condolances to the families of the people in the car.
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: Amigo on 26 July 2012, 19:03:53
He's been bailed & i believe charged with something or other i'm really not sure. The Police have his phone & digi card. I spoke to him earlier & he said he was'nt on the phone despite having hands free so all routine. I did'nt ask for his version of events, he must have been asked enough questions already, he'll talk to me in his own time. I know truck drivers can be total idiots & pull some stupid stunts & try to intimidate car drivers. Yes it goes on but by the same count some car/van drivers will put their lives on the line to get in front of a truck going into a contraflow etc. nearly clipping your O/S/F which would spin them & then braking hard once in front which is suicidal but the truck hits the rear of the car so is at fault. Some on here are HGV positive so will understand, otherwise to the rest of the car drivers PLEASE give a little room & allow for 44tonne stopping distances. Nobody wants a repeat of this regardless of fault, nobody wins.

  My mate is tough as old boots but this has broken him. He told me today that he does'nt even want to drive his car. He stared at the floor & said "I just can't believe it". Who knows who was changing a radio stn, reaching for a bottle water etc?

   He's mortified. Even if he's found not to be at fault he'll still feel responsible for the loss of two lives & would be scared of it happening again. Not forgetting the grieving families, wishes with them. The irony is said mate lost his Mum about 2 years ago & i lost mine a few months after, neither expected still both grieving & now he has this to contend with?

     It's a rough trot for everyone no matter how you look at it.
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: hercules on 26 July 2012, 20:37:17
very close to my home that  :'(
when i read the driver was from north east lincolnshire straight away i thought oh no guy does this route sometimes or he might know who it is,glad it wasnt you guy and hope yer mate is ok i cant imagine how he must feel
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 July 2012, 21:19:57
As a newly qualified Class1 driver, I sincerely hope I don't find myself in a similar situation :-\

If I can find a job that is ::)
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: Amigo on 27 July 2012, 20:24:59
Thanks for your comments & support. I'm still none the wiser. Herc you were'nt too far off the mark mate but in Immingham everybody either works at the refinery, on the dock or drives a truck so there's plenty of us to choose from using the 62. Yesterday i went to Neston on the Wirral (where my grandparents lived) & today Chester so saw the skidmarks & fluid stains. Made me shudder a bit. Someone was right regarding containers...which is what we do & shifting of loads. When we collect them from the dock they are bolt sealed & we can't open them until we get where they are going. This one was one of our regular charcoal runs...for your barbies!...& are double stacked pallets which can't move but are top heavy. About 18/20 tonnes load plus 4 for the box & 6 or 7 for the skelly. I've no tanker experience but am aware of the risks involved despite baffle plates although i once shunted a 20ft full weight tanktainer across the dock & they pull you all over the place, still rocking back & forward when you're stood still.
   Not to forget the fridge trailers with hanging meat, they can be very scary, known in the trade as a "swinger"!!!!
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: Amigo on 27 July 2012, 20:27:52
As a newly qualified Class1 driver, I sincerely hope I don't find myself in a similar situation :-\

If I can find a job that is ::)
I lived in Sussex for many years & still visit family/friends there a few times a year. Not sure of HGV work down there but i hope you find something soon. Guy. :y
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: STMO123 on 27 July 2012, 20:33:21
From the BBC website:
The 43-year-old lorry driver, from North East Lincolnshire, was arrested.
 
He was held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, after being treated in hospital for minor injuries, and has been released on bail while inquiries continue.
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 July 2012, 20:40:56
Thanks Guy :y gainfully self-employed so not a massive issue. Just need to sort a plan with the end result being Canada. Experience and work are a bit chicken and egg :-\
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: Amigo on 27 July 2012, 20:43:44
From the BBC website:
The 43-year-old lorry driver, from North East Lincolnshire, was arrested.
 
He was held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, after being treated in hospital for minor injuries, and has been released on bail while inquiries continue.
Evening Steve. Hoping this just routine although i still hav'nt had his version of events. Still no idea what happend or why. Thinking about it a few of you met him maybe 4 or 5 years ago at the first Amigo house invasion. He saw us all outside & pulled up in a red Toyota Hi Lux & chatted to a few of you for an hour or so.

    A biker geezer, looks like a skinny version of Captain Zok!!!!....Hi John, you know what i mean!!!
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: STMO123 on 27 July 2012, 20:50:41
From the BBC website:
The 43-year-old lorry driver, from North East Lincolnshire, was arrested.
 
He was held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, after being treated in hospital for minor injuries, and has been released on bail while inquiries continue.
Evening Steve. Hoping this just routine although i still hav'nt had his version of events. Still no idea what happend or why. Thinking about it a few of you met him maybe 4 or 5 years ago at the first Amigo house invasion. He saw us all outside & pulled up in a red Toyota Hi Lux & chatted to a few of you for an hour or so.

    A biker geezer, looks like a skinny version of Captain Zok!!!!....Hi John, you know what i mean!!!

What we must all remember, Guy, is that even if he is charged with the offence, he obviously didn't do it intentionally.
 
There will be the usual outcry and, if he is taken to court, he will be vilified.
 
I am in no way defending his alleged actions, but he will definately need all the friends he can get. Try your best to keep in touch with him.
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 July 2012, 21:06:26
+1 :y
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: Amigo on 27 July 2012, 22:36:57
From the BBC website:
The 43-year-old lorry driver, from North East Lincolnshire, was arrested.
 
He was held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, after being treated in hospital for minor injuries, and has been released on bail while inquiries continue.
Evening Steve. Hoping this just routine although i still hav'nt had his version of events. Still no idea what happend or why. Thinking about it a few of you met him maybe 4 or 5 years ago at the first Amigo house invasion. He saw us all outside & pulled up in a red Toyota Hi Lux & chatted to a few of you for an hour or so.

    A biker geezer, looks like a skinny version of Captain Zok!!!!....Hi John, you know what i mean!!!

What we must all remember, Guy, is that even if he is charged with the offence, he obviously didn't do it intentionally.
 
There will be the usual outcry and, if he is taken to court, he will be vilified.
 
I am in no way defending his alleged actions, but he will definately need all the friends he can get. Try your best to keep in touch with him.
I'll stick by him whatever Steve. Like you said if he was responsible for the terrible loss of two lives he could go down for a few years & i know the bloke, he'll take it on the nose. I'll be with him every step of the way however i can. I've been away in my youth, only a few months at a time, (detention centre then borstal) but i had nothing to lose then. In your teens you adjust, i'd struggle to adjust to any regime now i'm older. Serving time now would be so much more of a head fook than it was then. Even though i've spoken briefly to him i can't imagine how he's feeling, how could i?

  Hard to say how it all happened & i'm not going to speculate & it's all too serious suffice to say i just wish it had'nt in the first place. No good can come out of it, it's simply awful for everyone involved.
Title: Re: Two deaths on the M62 today.
Post by: big mel on 28 July 2012, 20:56:05
It's every truckers nightmare what your mate has suffered, even if he isn't to blame he will still have nightmares about it. Give all the support you can, as a trucker myself i feel for him. mel.