http://ww.examiner.com/x-4821-Phoenix-RV-Travel-Examiner~y2010m2d5-RVing-201-safety-in-towing-vehicles-horsetrailer-breaks-loose-from--RV1-horse-killed?#comments

RVing 201, safety in towing vehicles, horsetrailer breaks loose from RV, horse killed, Sun City, AZ

We RVers are obligated and responsible for doing everything within our ability to make certain that our towed vehicles are securely attached to our RVs. Further, the tires on the Toad, brakes, and other mechanical parts should be in good, safe condition to prevent an accident with the Toad that may endanger the life of the RV occupants or others.

In an unusual accident near Phoenix today, Feb. 5, 2010, a horse trailer came loose from the RV and apparently rolled across the road and overturned alongside the highway. Based on the video and brief report posted online the trailer appeared to be a 3 horse slant and was carrying 3 horses and tack. One of the horses was reportedly killed and the other two were injured. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in this accident. I STAND CORRECTED! THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF ACCIDENT! THANKS TO A COMMENT BY A READER, PLEASE BE ALERTED TO THE WEBSITE: www.dangeroustrailers.org Based on information provided by this website more than 15,000 people have been killed and more than 400,000 injured during the past 40 years due to loose trailer accidents on our nation's highways.

Whereas it is very unusual for a vehicle to detach from an RV when properly secured, it is not impossible. I have personally seen 2 tow dolly accidents along the highway, have seen ball hitches that have loosened and the ball has come out of the hitch, broken trailer tongues and similar accidents. Further, it is not uncommon when pins, bolts, hitch clamps and other tow devices have not been properly secured before being towed along the highway.

This short note is simply a call for RVers to be extra careful while towing trailers loaded with animals, ATVs, boats, household goods, cars, trucks, and any other item that can disconnect and cause harm to individuals or other vehicles. Too often, very little attention is given to the weight of the trailer, the distribution of the weight, the condition of tires, holddown straps and to poorly secured equipment and materials in the trailer.

However, this plea is not limited to RVers, but also to pickup trucks, cars, vans, SUVs and any other towing vehicle. While driving along the interstate systems in the southwest, especially on weekends and in hunting season, it seems that 20 to 40% of pickup trucks are towing a trailer loaded with ATVs, sandrails, etc.

Let us all be more careful, beginning right now!

Loose trailer causes fatal crash Found Archive

Loose trailer causes fatal crash

Last updated 19:56 10/12/2008

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One person is dead after a trailer collided with a vehicle just north of Whakapara, 23km northwest of Whangarei, this evening.

The trailer had come loose from its towing vehicle and collided with another vehicle about 7pm, Inspector Jacqueline Whittaker of northern police communications said.

A baby had been taken to hospital with critical injuries and one person remained trapped, she said.

Diversions were in place on Jordan Valley Road and Hukeranui Road.

- NZPA

Web Posted: 02/08/2010 11:37 CST

One killed, three injured in Bulverde wreck

By Jennifer R. Lloyd - Express-News

A New Braunfels woman died and three other people were injured in a three-vehicle wreck in Bulverde Saturday morning, according to the Bulverde Police Department.

The wreck occurred at 11:25 a.m. Saturday on Texas 46, one mile east of Blanco Road. Terry Louise Thompson, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace William Schroeder, said Lt. Gary Haecker of the Bulverde Police Department.

A Ford truck pulling a 16-foot trailer loaded with bricks was eastbound on Texas 46 when the driver lost control of the vehicle and went into the westbound lane of traffic, Haecker said. A witness stated that the trailer began swaying and that's when the driver appeared to lose control, Haecker said.

The truck collided with a Lexus SUV. A Toyota van traveling behind the Lexus was also involved in the crash. Thompson was a passenger in the Lexus and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the wreck, Haecker said.

The driver of the Lexus, Vincent Solito, 57, of New Braunfels was taken to University Hospital along with an 11-year-old passenger. The driver of the Ford, Wael Deeb, 46, of San Antonio was also taken to University Hospital, according to police.

Pellston family survives double crash on I-75

The Friend family of Pellston survived a double accident on I-75 Sunday, Jan. 17, when their 2000 Pontiac mini van (pictured here) struck an elk head on and was hit in the rear by a truck and snowmobile trailer that lost control after hitting the dead elk in the roadway just moments later. Photo: COURTESY PHOTO


Posted: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 10:20 am
By Christina Rohn News-Review Staff Writer

A Pellston family says it’s a miracle they were not killed in a double accident involving an elk on Sunday.

Around 7:20 a.m. on Jan. 17, Bill Friend said he was driving his 2000 Pontiac Montana mini van south on I-75 to a volleyball tournament in Midland with his wife, Suzie, son, Will, daughter, Tayler and his daughter’s friend, Abby Bodzick, when the unthinkable happened.

As the family neared the Wolverine exit ramp, Bill said it was still dark out and his headlights illuminated a herd of seven elk crossing the interstate.

“There were three of them in my lane, three in the fast lane and one on the side of the road,” he said. “At that point, I really couldn’t do anything — I just hit my brakes and braced myself.”

Bill said he hit one elk broadside, which shattered the van’s windshield as it was thrown over the roof.

“The impact of hitting the elk was just tremendous — it was like hitting a wall,” he said. “Luckily we were all wearing seatbelts.”

At this point, Bill said he pulled the van to the side of I-75 and proceeded to call 9-1-1.

Suzie said she, Bill and Will exited the vehicle shortly thereafter.

“We couldn’t believe we survived,” she said. “We were outside the van thanking God.”

The family wasn’t prepared for what would happen next.

Justin Hampton of Warren was traveling south on I-75 in his Ford Ranger, pulling an aluminum double-place snowmobile trailer with an Arctic Cat secured on it, when, without warning, he hit the dead elk that the Friend family had hit just moments before.

According to the Cheboygan County Sheriff Department, which responded to the accident scene, Hampton’s impact with the dead animal sent his vehicle airborne.

Suzie said she knew the truck was about to hit the van.

Terrified, she said she reached her arm into the van, attempting to pull her daughter Tayler and Tayler’s friend Abby out of the back seat, but this was to no avail.

“I was trying to get the kids out, saying, ‘hurry, hurry, get out!’” Suzie said. “It just went so fast, but in slow motion.”

The truck struck the rear of the mini van while still airborne, landed on its side, slid a short distance, and flipped again before catching the rumble strips on its roof.

In addition to this impact, Hampton’s snowmobile trailer and snowmobile detached from his vehicle and hit the rear of the Friend’s van.

“All I saw was headlights flying up and heading toward us ... it was like one of those Final Destination movies,” Bill said. “The truck actually hit the van and shoved it down the road 30-40 feet.

“It happened so quick; so suddenly — we thought (the girls) were dead.”

Bill said he and his wife sprinted toward the wreckage.

“We immediately just ran down there — it was horrifying,” he said. “My daughter got out and just collapsed ... I picked her up and we went down into the ravine.”

The family called 9-1-1 for a second time, and around this time, Bill said the driver of the truck (Hampton) was able to climb out of his overturned vehicle.

“He was walking around disoriented,” Bill said. “(Suzie) was yelling at him to get out of the road.”

Rescue workers arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and the Friend family, as well as Abby were taken to Northern Michigan Regional Hospital, where everyone but Tayler was treated and released.

According to Bill, his daughter remains at the hospital for internal bruising.

Hampton received minor injuries in the accident, but sought his own treatment.

Bill said things could have been a lot worse.

“We’re people of faith, and this just reinforces that,” he said.

“God is great and he was with us that day,” Suzie said. “There’s no explanation why anyone walked away from this.”

Suzie said she believes something needs to be done about the elk population in the Wolverine area.

“This is the year 2010, and they can’t figure out how to keep them off the highway,” she said. “How about motion lights or an electric fence?”

Christina Rohn

439-9398 - crohn@petoskeynews.com

Ludington Business Owner Injured In Accident

Ludington Business Owner Injured In Accident

posted by: Alan Neushwander on Wed. Jan. 20 2010

A local business owner was seriously injured during an accident Monday afternoon in Mason County. Undersheriff Tom Trenner says Pat Patterson suffered extensive injuries after a utility trailer hauling a quad broke loose from a pickup truck and struck his mini van on Amber Road, north of US-10, at about 3pm Monday. Patterson was taken to a hospital in Grand Rapids with serious injuries. He’s the owner of Hungry Howie’s Pizza in Ludington. The driver of the pickup truck, 38-year-old Rick Ruba, was ticketed for not having the trailer properly secured.

Halestorm endures hazards of the road Loose Trailer

December 17, 4:41 PMBoise Music ExaminerRustyn Rose

One side of rock and roll that most fans don't see or think about is how much time bands spend driving from location to location. Newer bands don't have a fancy tour bus. Most drive vans or RVs, pulling trailers, and living in cramped quarters. They do all of this to bring the music to the fans.

At this time of year touring can be especially fretful and dangerous because of weather conditions. This morning, Pennsylvania based rockers Halestorm endured a slight bump in the road. While on their way to their shows in Mississippi, their equipment trailer came loose of their RV. Vocalist/guitarist Lzzy Hale twittered;

Our gear trailer came loose this morning, separated from Bouncin' Betty, across the highway and tipped on its side in the medium. No one was hurt. Miraculously, all the gear seems ok.

It is always inspiring to see the bands who care as much about their fans, as the fans do about the music. Lesser bands might call the show off, but the Halestorm gang would never give less than 110% for their fans. Give them two tin cans and a tennis racket and they'll McGyver through.

Either way we were gonna have a show, worst case, maybe all acoustic or borrowing one of the opening bands equipment. But we are on our way!

Fortunately, the band made it safely to the club (The Fire) in Jackson, Mississippi, where the show will go on. Drummer Arejay Hale twittered upon arrival, "Thank you rock tour gods! We made it to The Fire in Jackson! Can't wait rock out Mississippi!!"

That's devoation that too few bands seem to have these days, and one of the reasons the group has such a loyal following. If you haven't checked them out yet, you can read more about Halestorm here.

If you enjoyed this article, please check out these articles on other rock classics, Them Crooked Vultures, Nickelback, Shinedown, and Daughtry.

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Overturned Camper Kills 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A camper overturned on southbound Interstate 435 at Raytown Road, killing one person, Missouri Highway Patrol officials said.The camper was pulling a trailer at the time of the accident, which occurred around 9:25 a.m..