Driver Killed After Semi Flips During High Winds On NC Bridge

Driver killed after semi flips during high winds on Alligator River Bridge

COLUMBIA, NC — "A man was killed Saturday morning when a tractor-trailer was pummeled by high winds from Tropical Storm Hermine."

"The vehicle overturned while crossing the Alligator River Bridge around 11 a.m."

"The driver was a 64-year-old man from Greensboro and the tractor-trailer belonged to Harris Teeter."

"According to the Tyrell County Sheriff’s Office, the truck was traveling westbound on the bridge when strong winds pushed the truck into the eastbound lane, and causing it to hit the rail."

"Deputies believe the driver was killed on impact."

What a shame! Sad to see.

Man, crossing a bridge like that in the middle of a tropical storm? Wow.

Man, crossing a bridge like that in the middle of a tropical storm? Wow.

That's what I was thinking. Although we will never know the while story, it's just a reminder that no load is ever that important. If severe weather is happening don't be afraid to tell your company that you are shutting down due to safety concerns. It's just not worth the risk.

Man that's scary, and winter time is right around the corner too.

And I agree with you Anchorman.

Also heard on the local news here just up the coast in VA Beach that it was an empty trailer. Not a good choice.

You know I could see attempting that if it was heavy trailer with a low center of gravity but if it was empty that is just a dumb move. I've only driven through real winds once but I also was loaded and took it slow and was ready to stop if it didn't feel right. Made it through with no incident but later there was a driver went through the same area after me and did the same thing this guy did. Maybe I'm just lucky.

I would have thought they would have been shut down during that time of the storm while it passed through? But then again I am also a newbie in the industry and still learning. I have always been told that you are the captain of your own ship. If a situation doesn't feel right then speak up and say something, prime example, a situation like this story. Sad thing to read though.

I was taught in high winds to NOT slow down.. Speeding up will cause a loaded trailer to "squat" causing a slightly lower profile.l and help keep your trailer straighter. Of course if im empty im parking lol but ive tried the rookie natural reaction of slowing down in heavy winds and it made it soo much worse. As a brand new solo driver i was told to "mash on it" and it really helped me not to be knocked around so much. YMMV and follow your own company's policies.

Speeding up will cause a loaded trailer to "squat" causing a slightly lower profile

No, it certainly will not. In a racecar that has downforce built into the aerodynamics it will. But big rigs do not have any sort of aerodynamics that would produce downforce on the trailer. The best you could hope for is that more air flows over the top than it does underneath but even that is going to be a very insignificant amount of downforce.

Speeding up will cause the air to flow around the trailer faster, possibly making it feel more stable. But the faster you go the better your chances of getting ground up in a meat grinder if that thing flips.

Picture your truck tipping over at 1 mph. Now picture your truck tipping over at 90 mph. You tell me which one you have the better chance of surviving.

I honestly don't know if travelling at a higher rate of speed will reduce your chances of tipping over in the first place but it will certainly increase your chances of getting ground into hamburger if it does flip. So if you're going to mash on the gas in a windstorm you're taking an all or nothing approach. If you stay on your wheels you survive. If you go over you almost certainly die.

These trucks certainly couldnt go 90, but your viewpoint was also how i saw it, until i got stuck in some windy conditions in Missouri and called in for help/advice.

I guess there are very mixed opinions on it.