Returning to the lighter side of highway incidents, an accident involving a semi truck and several other vehicles completely ruined the semi truck’s cargo of apples.
As a result of the accident, Colorado’s Highway 70 was shut down near the site of the accident for a number of hours. Initially one lane was open to allow vehicles through, but process was slow as a result of bumpy, sticky and slick road conditions resulting from the apple spill. Later, recovery personnel closed even this lane while they attempted to right the semi truck, which had overturned, and clear it from the road.
Despite the relative humor of a plague of apples descending on drivers, the trucking accident could have been very serious. Indeed, two people involved were injured, though apparently not critically.
More than anything, this accident illustrates the danger that semi trucks carrying large cargo can pose — even relatively innocuous cargo such as apples.
Further, semi trucks are massive vehicles, easily able to demolish other cars they come in contact with. It isn’t difficult to imagine a semi truck overturning and instead of missing other cars in the end, landing atop one. Or knocking other vehicles off the road as it skids out of control.
Further, the cargo carried by these huge vehicles are correspondingly large. This accident only involved apples, but semis are seen carrying massive concrete structures, other smaller cars, flammable or explosive fuel and other dangerous supplies. An overturning vehicle could throw thousands of pounds of supplies into unsuspecting motorists’ paths without so much as a how-do-you-do.
Drivers who are on the highway or even residential roads with semi trucks are advised to be aware of what the semi is doing at all times, without exception. These trucks require huge turning spaces, and can be dangerous even if they only forget to signal when changing lanes. Here’s hoping that no one else is subjected to a rain of apples — or worse — the next time they come across a semi.
