this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2024
259 points (97.1% liked)

News

23667 readers
5667 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil


Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.


2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.


Obvious right or left wing sources will be removed at the mods discretion. We have an actively updated blocklist, which you can see here: https://lemmy.world/post/2246130 if you feel like any website is missing, contact the mods. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted seperately but not to the post body.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source.


Posts which titles don’t match the source won’t be removed, but the autoMod will notify you, and if your title misrepresents the original article, the post will be deleted. If the site changed their headline, the bot might still contact you, just ignore it, we won’t delete your post.


5. Only recent news is allowed.


Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.


6. All posts must be news articles.


No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials or celebrity gossip is allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis.


7. No duplicate posts.


If a source you used was already posted by someone else, the autoMod will leave a message. Please remove your post if the autoMod is correct. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.


8. Misinformation is prohibited.


Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.


9. No link shorteners.


The auto mod will contact you if a link shortener is detected, please delete your post if they are right.


10. Don't copy entire article in your post body


For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Imagine being crushed by a 350k pound load while out driving. Holy moly Batman!

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Diplomjodler3 108 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Let me guess: it happened because the relevant safety regulations were repealed or the authority in charge was dissolved or muzzled.

[–] Stovetop 85 points 8 months ago (4 children)

Or perhaps because the owners of the transport company may have refused to listen to safety concerns from employees because it would require expensive upgrades and additional personnel that they didn't want to pay for.

In either case, I am sure this will be a "No one could have predicted this" situation, the driver of the truck takes all the blame, and nothing changes regarding company policy or safety regulations.

[–] Diplomjodler3 20 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The company can only get away with this sort of thing if there isn't adequate oversight. The root cause is political. If that indeed had anything to do with it, which is speculation at this point.

[–] Stovetop 8 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Yep. No matter the cause, I expect the responsible parties to face zero meaningful consequences.

[–] b3an 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

And they wonder why we’re so fucking jaded 😂😂 but for real. Justice doesn’t exist anymore.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Fairly certain that it never has.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago (3 children)

While this is probably what will happen because Texas, there was a really horrible limousine crash in New York and it basically destroyed the stretch limo industry

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I'm guessing the people involved in the limo crash that changed things where not poor normal people.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago

Yeah, and it shocked a lot of the rich folks to learn they'd die horribly if they were in an accident so they took action

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

I thought it was all the gaudy shit they started putting into the back of stretch Hummers. It's a plastic facsimile of being rich.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

I think the 1990s, 2000s, and beyond killed the stretch limo industry. I don't think anyone finds them that cool anymore and they're a pain in the ass to own and operate I'm assuming.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

Man I hope not. The owner or the truck or trucking company, or whoever was paid to transport the load, should be held liable. They paid the driver, subcontracted to an independent contractor and are therefore responsible for the performance. They could sue the driver/sub if they felt they misperformed by insurance should eat that trucking company alive for this.

[–] assassin_aragorn 2 points 8 months ago

Depending on how the contracts are written, the transport company may now be extremely fucked too.

This always happens. Skimp on safety to save pennies, then lose millions in equipment in a disaster. The person buying this equipment is going to demand a new one for free, and the supplier is going to point at the transporter.

Justly so. Let them lose everything for trying to cut corners and killing people as a result.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 8 months ago

The load was 10 times the standard limit

[–] [email protected] 63 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (8 children)

I saw a picture of that.... and how the fuck does a load like that with a bajillion trailers not have police or road flasher crews in front and behind to make sure no one passes it?

(The answer is cheaping out on both cost and safety on the shipper and sender's part)

[–] Tronn4 30 points 8 months ago
[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago

I thought the Army Corps of Engineers helped out with stuff like this.whatever this was it is far too big to be moved safely by regular folks.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Never seen those things without a police escort either but maybe that's just different regulations that don't exist in the US.

[–] HurlingDurling 9 points 8 months ago

Oh they exist in the US, but each state is different and Texas is one of the least regulated States because "MA FREEDUMS!" or whatever stupid shit idea Republicans sell in that state.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I don't think these are even allowed in most US states. Double-trailer is the most you'll see, and even those are rare.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] brygphilomena 8 points 8 months ago

Well, it seems like this would be a super load in Texas. So pilot and trailing cars at least. With a route inspection ahead of time and permits. It would also probably be extra likely to be inspected by highway patrol. I can't speak to Texas, but a load like this in California would usually have police escorts and probably even basically shut down the freeways during it's travel and cars wouldn't be able to pass.

It's not like those pilot and trailing cars have any real enforcement for other drivers, though. They'll be in contact with the truck driver to let him know what's around him and the trucks position especially around corners.

Securing a load is usually ultimately on the driver and his CDL. That driver is going to be having a very bad day. It's hard to say how much they will go after the company, because this is an unusual load.

[–] Wrench 6 points 8 months ago

But, but, muh free market self regulation! Only the most moral of companies will succeed, because The People will demand it with their dollar!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

And more importantly how did this thing get out of control? Were they trying to do 75MPH down the congested interstate with it?

[–] assassin_aragorn 4 points 8 months ago

That is a fucking terrifying sight.

And absolutely it should've had vehicle escorts. That looks like a very expensive piece of process engineering equipment. Whoever is culpable is going to take a huge financial hit.

People dying of course is even worse, but the people making decisions only care about money -- so let them wallow in the financial loss.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] vic_rattlehead 32 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

That article is so garbage. Words missing, no real details, all the links are spam.

[–] nezbyte 31 points 8 months ago (1 children)
[–] wreckedcarzz 24 points 8 months ago (1 children)

"Temple police confirmed that two people died and one was seriously injured after an oversize load came off its trailer Saturday.

Temple Fire and Rescue responded to the crash around 11 a.m. on State Highway 36, west of Highway 317.

Crews found the oversized load pinning a vehicle beneath. The load being hauled by the transport fleet was 350,000 lbs. It took four hours to extract one victim, who was flown to the ER with life threatening injuries.

Officials say the cause of the accident is still under investigation. The road remains closed at this time."

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (3 children)

The cause seems pretty obvious. Transporting an oversized load on a road that was obviously not designed to handle that kind of load safely. No public roads are really. The fact that it was even allowed on a public road is fucking appalling.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Yes we'll just move these parts outside of the environment.

[–] rustyredox 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

My man 🤝

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago

Yahoo in 2024? Post Marissa Mayer? Post Verizon? Currently owned by VC crap? You're saying the article isn't good?

[–] LucidNightmare 31 points 8 months ago (3 children)

This is why I go out of my way to not drive by these big vehicles. I do not trust the overworked, and tired drivers, nor do I trust the companies they work for.

[–] madcaesar 7 points 8 months ago

I don't trust any semi nor truck.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

I think most people try to do that. I don't trust them and I never will. Too much weight and speed to give trucks the benefit of the doubt.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

You, me and anyone who has watched Final Destination

[–] [email protected] 16 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Now that's some Final Destination level shit right there.

[–] disguy_ovahea 4 points 8 months ago

Imagine being late for work and getting stuck in the traffic afterward. I’d spend my whole day waiting for my imminent demise.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 8 months ago

Reasons why I generally drive the speed limit but got the fucking gas when closing on or passing a rig...

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago (1 children)

So I take it the guy who tugged on the straps and said "This is not going anywhere" before they left is going to be fired?

(In all seriousness this is a nightmare and Texas really needs to have better large load escort rules)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

But on the upside, these two people are so free

Thank God n Jesus that no evil regulations were holding their spirits down as they rose up to heaven, b'gawd

[–] Burn_The_Right 11 points 8 months ago

Reason #398 conservatives are valueless cockroaches: Deregulation.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Well, this is just an open and shut case of reckless driving, clearly the driver should have avoided the situation, and if they had, they would not have been crushed!

I mean, this is just super basic stuff, "don't get into dangerous situations" is something you learn even before learning to drive.

It's is not hard.

/s (just in case)

[–] wreckedcarzz 15 points 8 months ago (4 children)

Tbf if I saw a truck hauling what appears to be about a dozen trailers, I'm either passing it at Mach 8 or staying far behind it, because my brain immediately said "oh fuck that" at the 'what if' situations fueled by the photo. Actual nightmare shit.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The photo isn't great, but my memory of that stretch of road is there is a curve after a bridge. If the load came off and the truck was eastbound, that giant pole would have rolled across oncoming traffic. The poor driver coming the other way never stood a chance of avoiding it.

[–] wreckedcarzz 4 points 8 months ago

There's another link in the thread with a side and frontal photo; it didn't cross traffic. But that's equally terrifying.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] RememberTheApollo_ 4 points 8 months ago

Maybe a cracking tower or part of one?

load more comments
view more: next ›