The 76-year old driver’s employer, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., should be held criminally liable, as well as Mr. Creed, for this accident. It is unconscionable that they would allow a 76-year old man to drive such a vehicle.
We poke fun at the texting law stories but negligent operation of an extra heavy truck tractor and semi-trailer should be viewed as serious criminal negligence.
It is a shame.. I have only read this article but I can’t think of how you could just run over a line of cars at speed unless you were asleep, wasted or both. Thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims…good friend’s father recently was killed in OK by a heavy truck tractor that crossed the center line. Very sad.
Should be viewed as strong reminders of how important it is to pay 110% attention while you’re driving… you may be a great driver but plenty out there are not paying attention or just don’t care about how they drive or how they loaded their truck.
I used to do a volume of geriatric auto cases when Colonial Penn had the AARP business – then I did med-mal for 25 years and nursing home into the bargain
suffice it to say the trucker ‘browned out’ for a short time. After crashing into a parked car, or running through a store front or backing into and, in some cases, through a structure wall, they would always say the same thing: either (1) the throttle struck or (2) the brakes failed. but, in no case, would they admit they just checked out for a few seconds mentally.
Now I live in a retirement community and the drivers here are more dangerous than a loaded teenager.
“Authorities had said earlier that before the crash, Creed had worked 10 hours straight delivering groceries in sweltering heat but he did not exceed the federal daily driving limit. ”
Even if all they did was drive with proper rest-breaks and weren’t responsible for any physical labor – were tested for sleep disorders – weren’t allowed to jockey a rig with one hand on the stick, the other on the wheel while chatting on the cell phone – it’s still a dangerous job and a heck of a responsibility to the general public to screw up.
Remember guyz – Can’t blame it on a “geriatric trucker” cuz then you’re opening up a whole other can of worms – like talking about age discrimination – Getting his license in 1991 – at 76 means he was already pushing 60 as a rookie…
Consider the recent report of the HI airline pilots that overshot the big island because they “browned out” – The guy had sleep apnea – a known disorder with severe consequences – especially driving a rig – or flying a plane – something has to give – The Airlines make pilots retire at 60 – same should go for truckers – These things are just too big – too fast – and too dangerous to be running on auto pilot regardless of whether on a highway or not – Check out the ages of the drivers in all these commercial bus crashes – well above 65 – racing along above the speed limit – just another tragedy waiting to happen
If this driver had been 40, all of you would say it’s a terrible tragedy, and go about your business. Get someone older and you want to ban everyone over 65 from the road.
A couple of years ago the FAA announced that they would be raising the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots from 60 to 65 within 2 years. I don’t know if it has gone into effect. But you would think that a pilot of Sullenberger’s skill, experience and judgment doesn’t need to be taken off line in 18 months when he turns 60 (Jan 2011). He’s not alone in the cockpit like truck drivers are, either.
This wasn’t driver “inattention”, it was gross stupidity and borderline criminal negligence by the idiot who hired a 76 year old guy to drive a big rig. It was gross stupidity and borderline criminal negligence that the 76 year old idiot took the wheel of a big rig. FACT: old people fall asleep behind the wheel with more frequency than younger people. FACT: reaction time of old people is much worse than young people. The real tragedy here is that the old b_stard lived and others didn’t.
Paul Newman was in his 80’s and still competitive when he finally retired from motorsports. All drivers whether over the road truckers or in town grocery shoppers need to be tested every year when they reach say 65. I am 61 and I had myself professionally tested when I turned 60 to make sure I was not a hazzard. I will go through the same process again when I hit 65 or if I show signs of inattention.
Unfortunately not everyone is careful so we will have to legislate testing on drivers, especially big rig drivers, over a certain age. At some point people will have to realize that it is common sense not discrimination to ban over 75 or 80 year olds from driving big rigs or piloting commercial airlines.
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The 76-year old driver’s employer, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., should be held criminally liable, as well as Mr. Creed, for this accident. It is unconscionable that they would allow a 76-year old man to drive such a vehicle.
We poke fun at the texting law stories but negligent operation of an extra heavy truck tractor and semi-trailer should be viewed as serious criminal negligence.
It is a shame.. I have only read this article but I can’t think of how you could just run over a line of cars at speed unless you were asleep, wasted or both. Thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims…good friend’s father recently was killed in OK by a heavy truck tractor that crossed the center line. Very sad.
Should be viewed as strong reminders of how important it is to pay 110% attention while you’re driving… you may be a great driver but plenty out there are not paying attention or just don’t care about how they drive or how they loaded their truck.
I used to do a volume of geriatric auto cases when Colonial Penn had the AARP business – then I did med-mal for 25 years and nursing home into the bargain
suffice it to say the trucker ‘browned out’ for a short time. After crashing into a parked car, or running through a store front or backing into and, in some cases, through a structure wall, they would always say the same thing: either (1) the throttle struck or (2) the brakes failed. but, in no case, would they admit they just checked out for a few seconds mentally.
Now I live in a retirement community and the drivers here are more dangerous than a loaded teenager.
Too bad all around
“Authorities had said earlier that before the crash, Creed had worked 10 hours straight delivering groceries in sweltering heat but he did not exceed the federal daily driving limit. ”
Even if all they did was drive with proper rest-breaks and weren’t responsible for any physical labor – were tested for sleep disorders – weren’t allowed to jockey a rig with one hand on the stick, the other on the wheel while chatting on the cell phone – it’s still a dangerous job and a heck of a responsibility to the general public to screw up.
Remember guyz – Can’t blame it on a “geriatric trucker” cuz then you’re opening up a whole other can of worms – like talking about age discrimination – Getting his license in 1991 – at 76 means he was already pushing 60 as a rookie…
Consider the recent report of the HI airline pilots that overshot the big island because they “browned out” – The guy had sleep apnea – a known disorder with severe consequences – especially driving a rig – or flying a plane – something has to give – The Airlines make pilots retire at 60 – same should go for truckers – These things are just too big – too fast – and too dangerous to be running on auto pilot regardless of whether on a highway or not – Check out the ages of the drivers in all these commercial bus crashes – well above 65 – racing along above the speed limit – just another tragedy waiting to happen
Something needs to be done
If this driver had been 40, all of you would say it’s a terrible tragedy, and go about your business. Get someone older and you want to ban everyone over 65 from the road.
A couple of years ago the FAA announced that they would be raising the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots from 60 to 65 within 2 years. I don’t know if it has gone into effect. But you would think that a pilot of Sullenberger’s skill, experience and judgment doesn’t need to be taken off line in 18 months when he turns 60 (Jan 2011). He’s not alone in the cockpit like truck drivers are, either.
You are right, CSP…over 65 should be banned from driving.
This wasn’t driver “inattention”, it was gross stupidity and borderline criminal negligence by the idiot who hired a 76 year old guy to drive a big rig. It was gross stupidity and borderline criminal negligence that the 76 year old idiot took the wheel of a big rig. FACT: old people fall asleep behind the wheel with more frequency than younger people. FACT: reaction time of old people is much worse than young people. The real tragedy here is that the old b_stard lived and others didn’t.
Paul Newman was in his 80’s and still competitive when he finally retired from motorsports. All drivers whether over the road truckers or in town grocery shoppers need to be tested every year when they reach say 65. I am 61 and I had myself professionally tested when I turned 60 to make sure I was not a hazzard. I will go through the same process again when I hit 65 or if I show signs of inattention.
Unfortunately not everyone is careful so we will have to legislate testing on drivers, especially big rig drivers, over a certain age. At some point people will have to realize that it is common sense not discrimination to ban over 75 or 80 year olds from driving big rigs or piloting commercial airlines.