Truck Shop
Well-known member
Years ago in the 80's I operated all classes of tow trucks at all hours and all weather conditions. During the winter It seemed like I lived on I-90 especially on
the Rye Grass grade, the top was mile post 125 the bottom was at Vantage Wa- mile post 136, 5 to 6% grade the whole way. I spent more time on that
stretch of road than any where else. And I still remember 90% of the wreck scenes I worked. This was one of them.
I was called at 6:45 PM on a Sunday to run to MP 134.5 I-90 east bound to clear logs or lumber I was told from the freeway. So I took a 4x4 chevy with a
Holmes 500 unit, I figured I would just drop the sling and push it off the road. Well when I got to the scene it was much more than lumber to clear.
A young man driving a International COE with a 6V92 and no jakes got in trouble descending the east side- it got away from him- he kicked it in neutral
and tried to out run the grade. Washington State patrol estimated the speed when it layed over on its side going through the last corner at 110 MPH.
Sheared off 68 guard rail posts and tore up more rail. It ended up in the median and shot milled 4x10's across the west bound lanes. Two witnesses told the
WSP that they were sure the trailer a 45' flat, cart wheeled end for end 5 or 6 times. The poor young driver of the truck did survive for 15 days. He was
from the midwest and it was his first trip west past the Rockies. I discovered at the scene the slacks hadn't been adjusted for some time. The maxies were
set but I could still spin the tires. A case where auto slacks would have saved his life.
Truck Shop
the Rye Grass grade, the top was mile post 125 the bottom was at Vantage Wa- mile post 136, 5 to 6% grade the whole way. I spent more time on that
stretch of road than any where else. And I still remember 90% of the wreck scenes I worked. This was one of them.
I was called at 6:45 PM on a Sunday to run to MP 134.5 I-90 east bound to clear logs or lumber I was told from the freeway. So I took a 4x4 chevy with a
Holmes 500 unit, I figured I would just drop the sling and push it off the road. Well when I got to the scene it was much more than lumber to clear.
A young man driving a International COE with a 6V92 and no jakes got in trouble descending the east side- it got away from him- he kicked it in neutral
and tried to out run the grade. Washington State patrol estimated the speed when it layed over on its side going through the last corner at 110 MPH.
Sheared off 68 guard rail posts and tore up more rail. It ended up in the median and shot milled 4x10's across the west bound lanes. Two witnesses told the
WSP that they were sure the trailer a 45' flat, cart wheeled end for end 5 or 6 times. The poor young driver of the truck did survive for 15 days. He was
from the midwest and it was his first trip west past the Rockies. I discovered at the scene the slacks hadn't been adjusted for some time. The maxies were
set but I could still spin the tires. A case where auto slacks would have saved his life.
Truck Shop