Well, that didn't take long...

Yesterday afternoon, I was coming north out of Baltimore on I-95 in heavy traffic. I was in the second lane over from the right, and there was a UPS truck pulling doubles in the right lane. I believe I was doing between 35-45 MPH, but I can't remember exactly...

Anyway, said UPS truck was following too closely, and traffic in his lane stopped suddenly, and he apparently felt the only way to avoid rear ending the cars in front of him was to come into my lane at the same time as hitting the brakes hard. I saw him coming over, blew my air horn and hit the brakes. Felt myself moving left to avoid him, but knowing there were almost a dozen cars next to me in the two lanes to my left, I straightened the wheel and took the hit from his second trailer.

He hit me pretty good, felt like he knocked my tractor about a foot to the left, but no major damage was done. I put on my hazards and moved over and pulled off as soon as i could, just to see him drive away. He pulled off about 1/2 mile beyond me for a few minutes, checked his truck, thought he could get away with it, and drove away... :evil:

Called the police, called Roehl, explained how it happened about a dozen times, took some pictures, and had to be escorted into Baltimore Freightliner by a wrecker since I had no right side mirrors left.

The MD state police came shortly, and wrote it up as a hit and run, since they could not find the truck that hit me.

Everyone at Roehl has been real decent to me overall. Maintenence did not want to tow it for just a mirror, as my truck was drivable otherwise, but I insisted to my DSR that I could not get it there safely without them, so they sent the wrecker out. They found someone to relay the load, and the lady from Safety told me it likely would not be considered preventable.

Right now, I'm sitting at Baltimore freightliner, waiting to get my truck photographed and and the damage appraised. I'm still pretty upset about all of this, but in the end, nobody got hurt, which is all that really matters to me.

 

there's only 2 problems I see there:

because you were towed from the scene----you now have a DOT reportable
NOT AT FAULT accident on your MVR, instead of just a non-reportable not at
fault accident on your DAC. But because it was on a public roadway--it may
have been Dot reportable anyway( not 100% sure on that )

but, did you consider stealing the hood mounted mirrors off the truck- and duct taping them in place(temporary to limp--right lane ONLY--somewhere-like the Pilot- to get a replacement west-coast mirror)

I'm not saying SAVING the company from spending $500-1000 dollars for a wrecker call is an important issue--but not having that DOT reportable on your record--would been better for you in the long run.

Yep--did some checking--if you hadn't called the wrecker--it wouldn't been DOT reportable

390.5
Accident means-
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this definition, an occurrence involving a commercial motor vehicle operating on a highway in interstate or intrastate commerce which results in:
(i) A fatality;
(ii) Bodily injury to a person who, as a result of the injury, immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the accident; or
(iii) One or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle(s) to be transported away from the scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle.

Disabling damage- means damage which precludes departure of a motor vehicle from the scene of the accident in its usual manner in daylight after
simple repairs.

Was it daytime?

 

I'm not so sure, this was a company reportable accident, but the driver was not cited for anything so the driver really should not have anything in the reports at all. This will effect the safetysys numbers for the company, but the driver really should face much of anything.

 

that's a very good point; sorry my mistake, the police didn't call the tow truck----driver did after the fact, yep, he's in the clear on his MVR(i guess).

 

The driver should be fine, but if they towed it, it's highly possible that an accident report was filled out after the fact. It does happen and does so rather frequently.

If it lists as a DOT Recordable, GET A COPY OF THAT REPORT FOR YOUR RECORDS! It will only be a problem if a future company asks for it and you don't have it. Current company, in the meantime, should be no problem since it was a hit and run.

 

Sounds like this could have been a very serious accident, I think you did the right thing by holding your lane and taking the hit from the UPS truck. I don't know if you were loaded but if you would have locked the brakes up and swerved there could have been a chance of rolling the truck over into the left lane on top of the 4wheelers beside you (that could have been ugly).

Who really cares if it's DOT reportable, it wasn't your fault and it sounds like it was non preventable on your part. I know that area of I95 pretty well and I'm sure there were plenty of witness's that saw what happened (hard to not notice 2 big trucks coming together).

Consider it a good lesson learned from the road and what went wrong and why it happened. In the future though always make sure you have an out if something goes wrong. I am constantly using the keys from the Smith System hauling gas. An accident might not be my fault but if I don't protect my sides of my tanker and a truck comes into my lane there is a good chance the he will rupture one of my compartments and I'm not going to pay for another drives mistake.

You did a good job though and be proud of yourself that you didn't instinctively swerve and cause a more serious accident.

 

I hope they catch and fry that UPS driver. Not for having an accident but for running from one.

 

I would bet money that driver is caught. I'm assuming it was a UPS Freight driver and not a UPS Package driver? Find out which drivers were running in that area going North on I95 and look at their trailers.

 

UPS happens to have a drop yard right beside where I work, I will keep an eye out over tomorrow to see if one goes out with red marks down the left side. He said it was a doubles, nearly all of their doubles stop at this yard to swap trailers with drivers coming from the other direction. Sounds typical of the jerks who come by this drop yard. They come blasting in as hard as they can go, then go back out as slow as possible. Once they hit the big road, they are long gone out of sight. I'm waiting for them to have a wreck on this private road with they way they blast in.

 

thanks for all the replies...

First of all, I was not actually towed from the scene, the wrecker came out and escorted me in to the shop, talking me through the lane changes since I couldn't see the right side of my truck. Not sure if that has anything to do with DOT reportable or not, but the police did not call the wrecker.

Had about 29,000 lbs in the box, but as busy as it was that time of day I was afraid of locking it up and going sideways. I hit the brakes hard, but I did not stomp on the pedal, either...

Dennis, you pretty much summed up my thoughts afterward; accidents happen, but there is NO excuse for driving off!

Mr. Ford95, I appreciate you checking, if you see anything please let me know!

Thanks everyone!