Truck Crash Colorado - With Videos

At this point, it's still all speculation until the investigation is complete and the report is available. With no smoke or fire coming from the wheels. I'll agree with others that brakes didn't seem to be the issue. As far as engine braking goes, don't forget that engine brakes are still optional equipment and not every truck has them but the driver still should have been in the proper gear regardless. If I had to guess, I'd say distracted driving or lack of experience, **** poor training and panic when the truck got away from him. The driver is only 23.

At this point, it's still all speculation until the investigation is complete and the report is available. With no smoke or fire coming from the wheels. I'll agree with others that brakes didn't seem to be the issue. As far as engine braking goes, don't forget that engine brakes are still optional equipment and not every truck has them but the driver still should have been in the proper gear regardless. If I had to guess, I'd say distracted driving or lack of experience, **** poor training and panic when the truck got away from him. The driver is only 23.

I agree with everything you just posted. Well said.

Never mind, I shouldn't have bothered posting. I should have known I'd just get a lecture instead of a discussion.

Feeling sensitive today are we? He wasn't lecturing you in the least. He was just answering your question and carrying on a respectable conversation.

As my dad used to say, toughen up buttercup.

Well, maybe 'lecture' is the wrong word, but I think Tractor Man's post has a bit of a "you're an idiot" tone to it, and I *am* sensitive to that. (And as contrast, your response doesn't have that tone). But I think maybe he didn't get exactly what my question was, and I guess that's my fault for not being clear. I don't think it's a matter of not being tough enough, but sometimes it just doesn't seem worth the trouble to argue my point. Then I wish I hadn't bothered posting at all because if I don't keep responding it looks like I'm admitting my post was stupid.

Having said that, I think Tractor Man's second post might have the answer. It could be the spokesman was thinking that probably the brakes failed because the driver didn't use a low gear to safely descend the hill. At the beginning of that youtube video there's a sign warning trucks that they aren't at the bottom of the hill yet, maybe he ignored that or didn't notice it.

I've been driving this route for 3 years. I have over 400,000 miles on this route. I 70 is one of my options, but I usually take I-80. Every other night I drive from Denver to Salt Lake City, take my break and Salt Lake like I'm doing right now, and drive back to Denver that next night. I haven't done all of the math, but each way I've probably driven this 1300 times.

Clearly when he drove by he was smoking. I actually learned how to drive a semi on these foothills on my third day of training.

He was traveling East and this stretch of road is deceivingly steep. It's just that it's very, very long. There's a runaway ramp about 4 miles behind him. If you look at a map, almost all the way down the hill, we call it a hill but it's really a mountain, from Genesee all the way down to C470, the downgrades are 45 miles per hour for semis. The runaway truck ramp is so far away from where this happened that he could have easily picked up speed. From C 470 to the accident where the speed limit is back to 65, he could have easily picked up speed again and I myself have caught myself running 75 miles per hour without even trying on this stretch. But you have to pay attention.

Most of the time, if you're using manual. 7th or 8th gear is the highest I've ever gone and you have to use your brake preservation. Unless it's really slick on the road, my engine brake is always on.

I cannot imagine the terror he must have felt. He had a long time to know he was in trouble.

My air compressor died last fall and brake hoses replaced last night. So many things could have happened.

Do your pre-trip, Everyone.

-mountain girl

I think Tractor Man's post has a bit of a "you're an idiot" tone to it, and I *am* sensitive to that.

OH Please Kurt! SMH

I've driven this route so many times that I can always pick out the drivers who've never driven these mountain corridors. They burn through there brakes and you can smell then coming down the hill. I saw a ton of smoke as he passed by that guy in the video.

Brake until you've asked down to 5mph below your chosen speed. Then let up until it reaches your chosen speed again. Going west on I70, west of Eisenhower Tunnel, truck speed limit is 35mph, all the way to Silverthorne.

But here, this was foothill territory. Steep, but deceiving because the view is vast ahead of you and it doesn't appear to be that bad.

-mountain girl

I need to prooread before I hit submit. Sorry bout the spelling and grammar. You get the idea.

I70 east or west bound, is a lot of work and I avoid it as often as possible.

10 hours are up.

Gotta roll back to Denver.

I'm taking I-80.

-mountain girl

I think Tractor Man's post has a bit of a "you're an idiot" tone to it, and I *am* sensitive to that.

OH Please Kurt! SMH

"SMH" because you disagree, or because you don't think that matters?

Probably driving while distracted, ya know, like the guy who's driving while making a video.

Good catch! What we do know is that Video Man is the guy we all worry about all the time. Talk about distracted driving. And then he wonders if it’s safe to go under the bridge to continue filming? And then he actually turns left and goes over the bridge? We don’t know exactly what caused this horrible tragedy, but we do know that Video Man should be taken in for re-training.

Because I never said or even insinuated you were an idiot. If I were to set out to hurt your feelings, I'm afraid I may damage you for life! oops.........I may have just done it. I believe Brett said it best:

Feeling sensitive today are we? He wasn't lecturing you in the least. He was just answering your question and carrying on a respectable conversation.

As my dad used to say, toughen up buttercup.