This latest accident underscores the fact that tight curves and large trucks can be a dangerous combination – even if the truck can theoretically make the turn under ideal conditions. This is an important to learn as we consider the efforts by Caltrans to open up our region to even bigger trucks, while exempting road-straightening projects from their own safety design standards. From the Times-Standard:
The California Highway Patrol investigated the crash. CHP Sgt. Martin Abshire said initial reports indicate that the driver entered the turn at an unsafe speed.
“I’m not sure what the exact speed will be clocked at in the report, but we have witnesses at the scene saying he was going somewhere in the 40 to 45 mile per hour range, clearly an unsafe speed for that turn,” Abshire said….”