Yesterday I was on my way to Toledo from Ft. Waayne. Nice short trip and finally rode the new stretch of US 24. When I got to Maumee Traffic slowed down near the ramp to I-475 due to construction. I had been behing a big rig for quite some time, and with a couple cars in between I could see well the flow of traffic. The big truck took the I-475 S. ramp, and I followed. Knowing the area well, and the tight turn, I slowed down. I cleared the turn at the bottom, and a second or two later I started to speed up and I saw the truck in front ahead. But now that truck was no longer upright, it was laying on its side. Stopped rather quickly, about 50 feet away, parked it, and ran as fast as i could to help the driver. I had seen the dust still rising, but saw no smoke, so I ran on the top side of the truck/trailer, as it was laying on left side. I reached the cab, looked through the windshield, and saw he was moving around. I got his attention, yelled at him to shut the engine off, and to open the door and try to climb out. Two other motorists stopped, ran over to help, he climbed out, and we stood below him to help him down. A third motorist stopped, a nurse, and with her help we moved him a short distance away. He was dazed, shock was visible, and he had minor scrapes and blood on his left arm, but he was able to walk on his own. I asked him his name and where he was from. I forget his name, but he is from Brampton, ON. My co-driver had been busy calling 911, reported the accident, and help was there soon. My truck was at the end of the ramp, and nowhere to go, but the cars soon moved to the edges and made room for the emergency units. I was impressed, and my hat goes off to the motorists that stopped to help, and the quickness of the City of Maumee, OH. In about three minutes the police was there, four minutes a fire chief vehicle was there, five minutes a fire truck, and shortly after the ambulance. The driver was fine, a few cuts and bruises, still dazed, but walked a few feet over and thanked me. He shook my hand, twice, and gave me what passes for a hug. I offered any help, like contacting his family, or checking on him later at the hospital, and unless he had internal cracks, he could be released later in the day, so I also offered transportation. Living near Toledo, and home for the weekend, I had time. We would talk later he said. He was loaded on the ambulance, and off he went. We waited for all the traffic to clear from the ramp, and finally reversed our course up the ramp, and back onto US 24 through town. I looked at the truck once more, on its side, a sad view, but was glad about the driver making it out alive.
A few minutes later my co-driver said thank you. Huh? He said thank you again. I asked him for what? He said for insisting often to slow down on ramps. I was just a couple of seconds behind that truck at the top of the ramp, but did not speed up and kept it at 25, while the truck ahead pulled away from us.
My co-driver now knows first hand what top heavy means. As well as the Canadian driver.
I write this simply to make anyone that reads this aware of the need to slow down on turns and ramps. You'll make your destination every time.
A few minutes later my co-driver said thank you. Huh? He said thank you again. I asked him for what? He said for insisting often to slow down on ramps. I was just a couple of seconds behind that truck at the top of the ramp, but did not speed up and kept it at 25, while the truck ahead pulled away from us.
My co-driver now knows first hand what top heavy means. As well as the Canadian driver.
I write this simply to make anyone that reads this aware of the need to slow down on turns and ramps. You'll make your destination every time.
