27 Injured In Multi-Vehicle Crash On The 5 Freeway

[sce56]

Source: CBS

27 Injured In Multi-Vehicle Crash On The 5 Freeway
LEBEC, Calif. (CBS) ―

At least 27 people have been injured in a multi-vehicle accident on the 5 Freeway near Fort Tejon in Lebec. In addition, officials say one of the vehicles, a big rig carrying hazardous materials, has blocked all lanes of traffic on the northbound 5. In all, nine vehicles were involved. The crash occured just before 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The big rig, traveling down the Grapevine's steep downgrade, apparently lots its brakes setting off the chain-collison. Traffic from Southern California towards the Central Valley is being diverted at Lebec onto eastbound state Route 138 to Lancaster, and north into Bakersfield via routes 14 and 58.




Read more: http://cbs2.com/local/27.Injured.No.2.897985.html

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Not a good way to end the year!

[XemaSab]

1. That's a gruesome diversion

I'd turn around and go find a hotel.

[sce56]

2. Not that bad done it before! n/t

[Duer 157099]

3. Losing breaks going down the Grapevine

Sheeeeet, the stuff of nightmares.

This is gonna mess up some travel plans for sure. Glad I'm not there.

[tabatha]

14. brakes

[Duer 157099]

15. those too

:crazy:

[sce56]

4. KABC reports 4 fatalities

KTLA Reports "Runaway Big Rig Triggers Deadly Chain Reaction Crash on I-5"
Then at the bottom states
"At least 27 people are reported injured.

Two helicopters were being called to the scene to transport people suffering from critical injuries.

No confirmed reports of fatalities."

No confirmed yet the headline states Deadly!

[jaysunb]

5. Guess the " run away truck " lane didn't work....

I've often wondered would it. :shrug:

[sce56]

8. I've seen trucks in that lane before! It works

I don't think it made it that far before hitting the center divider.

Just before 1 p.m., the California Highway Patrol received calls about a runaway truck along the I-5 near the Lebec exit at the Los Angeles County-Kern County line, said CHP Officer Scott Jobinger. The big rig struck at least nine vehicles before slamming into the center divider, Jobinger said.
Video of the back up here http://cbs2.com/local/27.Injured.No.2.897985.html
Seems like the Tule fog was a contributing factor!

[LisaM]

6. I want to know more about the truck

I mean, I know accidents happen and it very well may have passed all its inspections and been in total compliance. Or --- it could be someone skirting the law and driving in an unsafe vehicle.

[liberaltrucker]

10. CA has very tough enforcement of commercial vehicle safety requirements

See downthread for my take

[liberaltrucker]

7. The driver is (was) an idiot

I don't care how heavy the load is, there is a way to descend Grapevine or any long, steep
grade safely. Start slowly, keep a low gear and if necessary, LIGHT pressure on the brake.
Use your retarder, if you have one. Grapevine has a 25 MPH truck speed limit for a reason!

I've descended Grapevine numerous times, usually with a barely legal weight (77,000-79000 lb gross).
NEVER did my brakes get even warm, let alone fade to the point of failure. IMHO, if that driver
is lucky enough to have survived-and I pray he did-he should lose his CDL for life. There is
simply no excuse for a person this incompetent to be piloting an 80,000 pound rig on public highways.
ESPECIALLY WITH FUCKING HAZMATS!!!!!!!!!

:grr:

[sce56]

9. And it was a placarded load

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/12/runaway-truck-h.html
The truck was transporting some sort of hazardous materials, but none were spilled in the accident and hazmat teams have searched the area and deemed it free of contamination, Jobinger said. Officials aren't sure when the 5 will be reopened to traffic and are using the 17 miles south of the accident site to figure out when the driver lost control of the truck.

[liberaltrucker]

11. Thank (Deity) for that

Any amount of hazmat spill would've made a bad matter catastrophic.

[izquierdista]

12. From movie to real life

[Brucie Kibbutz]

13. I'd like to know how much experience the driver has.

Like liberaltrucker said, you don't need to touch the brake pedal if you've got it geared down.