Driver in Semi Explosion Speaks on Sharing Roads with Rigs

Print Story

Published: 9/12/2011 10:43 pm

Updated: 9/13/2011 10:11 am

There have been two accidents in one week on what the Ohio Department of Transportation said is the third-busiest stretch of interstate for truck traffic in the nation.

But was one of the accidents preventable? The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Monday that 58-year-old Robert Weirick of Youngstown, whose semi caught fire last week and closed parts of Intertstate 80 for hours, will not face charges because he was cut off.

"They were driving along side of me and they were slowly passing me and decided to come over into my lane," Weirick said by telephone on Monday.

Weirick said that semi drivers face "close calls" all the time.

"You could stop at a truck stop and ask 100 trucks and I guarantee you, 100 of them will tell you that's one of the worst things there is right now. People don't yield," Weirick said.

Driving instructors said people need to understand the mechanics of driving a big rig.

"It can take up to, if you are doing 55 mph on level dry pavement, it can take up to three football field lengths to stop a fully loaded truck," said Kinorea Tigri, heavy equipment CDL instructor at New Castle School of Trades.

Instructors and drivers said there are things you can keep in mind to make sure you don't cause an accident, or worse, cause loss of life.

"If you cannot see the mirrors on that truck, then you are too close to that truck and he cannot see you," Tigri said.

"Pay attention. That's the easiest thing I can say. Everyone has an agenda and they are on a mission. They are doing something and they are not paying attention to their driving. They have to yield," Weirick said.

Tigri said as a former truck operator herself, she was cut off numerous times per day, which can have dangerous consequences for her and other drivers nearby. Semis are not able to stop quickly, taking as much as three football fields to do so in some instances and can tip over if they try to suddenly change lanes.

The driving instructors offered some tips to keep everyone safe. They said when changing lanes, always make sure the vehicle you pass is well behind you in your mirror before switching. And always keep in mind that if you cannot see the mirrors on the side of a semi, then the driver cannot see you.

Related Links

Print Story

6 Comment(s)

Comments: Show | Hide

Here are the most recent story comments.View All

kk80586 - 9/13/2011 9:22 PM

0 Votes

Report User

So now a truck driver can just tell the cop a car ran him off the road? B.S. I hope they gave this guy a lie detector test or had a witness before they let him off. Probably the same rookie SHP that let a trucker off for hitting me in the a$$end. The guy tried to not let me pass and when I did he side swiped my van. Then when I came to a slowing stop in a single lane further down the road the lying SOB told the rookie that I stopped suddenly. B.S. The trucker had a cell phone so he got to call the cops first and got to fill the rookie full of lies so the cop said he would ticket both or none. I kick myself today for not accepting a ticket. This guy tried to control me from the cab of his truck and when he could not he used his truck as a weapon. This was the 2nd semi that I stopped/pulled over for trying to not let me pass (both times on I-80). I used to drive the turnpike from N.L. to Warren to work everyday. If you are getting on the highway in a car, trucks will not budge from the right lane to let you on (sans once out of thousands), but many times a truck whipped in front of me at the last second as I was passing because one of their butt buddies was coming onto the highway. Don't tell me a truck cannot change lanes in a split second. I've seen it many times. My dad drove truck. I used to have great respect for truckers. But todays truckers take that "king of the road" s#|t too seriously. If you want to drive something where the biggest vehicle has the right of way...get a boat. On the road, the right of way applies to all sizes and that includes motorcycles. On the bike I own my entire lane. If you try to pass me in my lane, don't expect a civil reaction. CsrLiz- there are proportionately at least as many bad semi drivers as car drivers. There are just a lot more cars than semis. T.W.- other than directly behind the trailer there is NO blind spot if you look carefully and properly...same goes for a car, and yes even a motorcycle.

CsrLiz344 - 9/13/2011 11:44 AM

0 Votes

Report User

Car drivers need to be taught (starting in high school) how to share the road with semi's. They can not stop on a dime, can not turn as a car can, and can not pick up speed like we can. I see too many people do stupid things in front of a truck, that can get them killed. Are there bad truck drivers? Of course, but there are more bad car drivers than semi's.

Truckers Wife - 9/13/2011 11:10 AM

1 Vote

Report User

BY, I understand that there are some truck drivers that are not as good as others. But in defense, once again, of the truck drivers, being married to one and having many friends who are drivers and experiencing it first hand, most company drivers are limited to how fast their trucks can go due governs on their trucks. Which means the fastest they can go is 62 to 65 mph. As far as being forced off the road, did they have any where to go? In Connecticut, they have very long on ramps to the highways, and still I have seen truck drivers trying to get over and can't due to traffic and the car coming onto the highway either slow down impeding traffic or trying to race the semi. Being one of the cars on the road, which is the only thing I drive, and taking that road trip with my husband for well over 3000 miles (from Ohio to Texas and back)I can honestly say that most of those problems are the cars. While there are some idiot truck drivers, I think that the problem is that most cars do not realize the limitations that a semi has and we should all be educated as to what they are to keep ourselves and others safer on the road.

lovemygsd - 9/13/2011 11:00 AM

1 Vote

Report User

Yes It is True About Car Drivers, You see It all The Time, But There are also a Lot Of bad Truck Drivers, Ive Reported a Few, weaving all over the road, going off the road and jumping back on to go back off again. to riding your car bumper. to almost side swiping you. Then They Act like they Own the Roadway. Bull Crap. Car Drivers So Many are Total Idiots, Total Moran's . Not only cutting truck drivers off by also other cars. Idiots out there, an Accident waiting to happen

BYg11 - 9/13/2011 10:23 AM

1 Vote

Report User

Well...the same goes for the truck drivers. I can't tell you how many times I have been cut off by a truck driver or almost forced off the road by one who wasn't paying attention. Plus, how many of them actually drive the speed limit posted for them?

Truckers Wife - 9/13/2011 2:12 AM

6 Votes

Report User

They are completely right. My husband is a truck driver and I recently rode with him from Ohio to Texas. I cannot tell you how many cars cut in front of him, failed to yield, turned in front of him and many other things. These truck drivers deserve alot of respect and thanks for their abiltity to look ahead and try and keep us all safe on the road. Driving is their living and the last thing that they would want to do is be in an accident. Please everyone, pay attention to the trucks, understand that they make wide turns, take longer to stop, have blind spots that cars do not have and have a right to the road as we all do. Many truck drivers spend weeks on the road away from their families to bring us the many items we use on a daily basis. We should all have a mutual respect for eachother while driving.

Click Here to Add Your Comments View All

	Johnson Talks Jobs at Salem Town Hall Jobs and job creation continue to be key issues on the 2012 campaign trail. Congressman Bill Johnson on Monday kicked off a week of public events in Salem, where he discussed jobs. 1 hour 12 minutes ago
	ACTION, Pastors Seek Solution to Youngstown Violence As the family and friends of another Youngstown homicide victim prepare to bury their loved one on Tuesday, members of ACTION met with area faith leaders and other concerned citizens. 1 hour 21 minutes ago2 comments
	Poland BOE Tables Resolution to Proceed with Levy At its regular board meeting on Monday, Poland Board of Education treasurer Donald Stanovcak said he hadn't received information necessary to move forward with deciding the levy's dollar amount. 1 hour 21 minutes ago