Kirby Orme of Big Bear Towing makes preparations to haul the cab of a semi truck out of the woods Monday evening near the base of Teton Pass. The truck, which was hauling a load of potatoes and onions, crashed into a gravel storage shed, where the cab separated from the trailer and flew into the forest, followed closely by the trailer’s entire load of potatoes.
A semi loaded with potatoes and onions crashed Monday evening into a gravel storage shed at the base of Teton Pass, just weeks after the Highway 22 truck arrestor shut down for an investigation.
The driver was transported to the hospital, Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper Todd Baxter said. Witnesses told him the truck’s brakes overheated, though that hasn’t been confirmed.
A semi tractor-trailer hauling a load of potatoes and onions crashed into a gravel storage shed Monday at the base of Teton Pass. The cab separated from the trailer and launched into the forest, followed closely by the trailer's entire load of potatoes.
VIDEO BY BRADLY J. BONER / NEWS&GUIDE
That over-weight potato truck should never have been on Teton Pass in the first place. Rather than more Truck Arrestors, public safety would be better served by using the weigh-in-motion scales and law enforcement to stop overweight trucks from driving Teton Pass.
Let's consider a permit system for trucks that need to travel Teton Pass, and include mandatory instructions on how to drive steep mountain highways. Overweight potato trucks traveling to distant destinations have no reason whatsoever to drive over Teton Pass. That truck should have been prevented from ever starting up the other side. The best truck arrestor is a Highway Patrol stop at the state line.
WYDOT is proposing an Arrestor in Wilson located at the 25 MPH sign. Imagine this truck being directed to this arrestor during the height of tourist season or during commute rush hour when vehicles are blocking the entrance to the arrestor. Vehicles are regularly backed up to the Elliot cemetery road. Catastrophic! Do Wilson residents want to have a truck arrestor at their doorstep before entering Wilson? Become involved and oppose this dangerous site location proposed by WYDOT!
Looks like it did a better job as a truck arrestor than keeping the sand dry. Since wydot can’t figure out a sandshed OR a truck arrestor, maybe they should fill that truck chute full of sand and use it for both.
Isn’t it obvious that the hope that the trucking industry going over the pass can’t self regulate thus a tool for all commercial transit must be applied for the safety of all? How many times do we need the Wydot roulette on this road to take place?
Please note: Online comments may also run in our print
publications. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Please turn off your CAPS LOCK. No personal attacks. Discuss issues & opinions
rather than denigrating someone with an opposing view. No political attacks. Refrain from using negative
slang when identifying political parties. Be truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or
anything. Be proactive. Use the “Report” link on each
comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with us. We’d love to hear eyewitness
accounts or history behind an article. Use your real name: Anonymous commenting is not
allowed.
.
The News&Guide welcomes comments from our paid subscribers.
Tell us what you think. Thanks for engaging in the conversation!
(6) comments
Not really an excuse for not using lower gear & burning brakes out.
Build the tunnel. It's the only reasonable solution. Get with the times!
That over-weight potato truck should never have been on Teton Pass in the first place. Rather than more Truck Arrestors, public safety would be better served by using the weigh-in-motion scales and law enforcement to stop overweight trucks from driving Teton Pass.
Let's consider a permit system for trucks that need to travel Teton Pass, and include mandatory instructions on how to drive steep mountain highways. Overweight potato trucks traveling to distant destinations have no reason whatsoever to drive over Teton Pass. That truck should have been prevented from ever starting up the other side. The best truck arrestor is a Highway Patrol stop at the state line.
WYDOT is proposing an Arrestor in Wilson located at the 25 MPH sign. Imagine this truck being directed to this arrestor during the height of tourist season or during commute rush hour when vehicles are blocking the entrance to the arrestor. Vehicles are regularly backed up to the Elliot cemetery road. Catastrophic! Do Wilson residents want to have a truck arrestor at their doorstep before entering Wilson? Become involved and oppose this dangerous site location proposed by WYDOT!
Looks like it did a better job as a truck arrestor than keeping the sand dry. Since wydot can’t figure out a sandshed OR a truck arrestor, maybe they should fill that truck chute full of sand and use it for both.
Isn’t it obvious that the hope that the trucking industry going over the pass can’t self regulate thus a tool for all commercial transit must be applied for the safety of all? How many times do we need the Wydot roulette on this road to take place?
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Please note: Online comments may also run in our print publications.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Please turn off your CAPS LOCK.
No personal attacks. Discuss issues & opinions rather than denigrating someone with an opposing view.
No political attacks. Refrain from using negative slang when identifying political parties.
Be truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the “Report” link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts or history behind an article.
Use your real name: Anonymous commenting is not allowed.
.
The News&Guide welcomes comments from our paid subscribers. Tell us what you think. Thanks for engaging in the conversation!