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Topic: RV Crash on Teton Pass (Read 472 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #1
The RV was traveling eastbound down Teton Pass just ahead of Wilson,[on the  flats, not the hill] Wyoming, pulling a Ford F-150 at about 3:53 p.m. Wednesday. Traffic was sluggish. The male driver told investigators he had to use his brakes frequently, Bracken said, adding that the RV had an air brake system.
When the driver tried to pass other vehicles, his brakes failed altogether and the vehicle started to run away from him. The driver tried to pull off the road into the flats along the shoulder, and the RV rotated 90 degrees clockwise in the softer terrain, then rolled over A HALF TIME onto its roof, Bracken said.

NOVICE!!!
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #2
"Wyoming officials are investigating brake failure as the likely cause."

Wrong. Driver failure. And that's a tragedy, because this accident was almost certainly preventable, if only the driver had known the first thing about mountain driving. (That being "Don't ride the brakes!")

"on the  flats, not the hill"

Yes, but "The crash site precedes a quarter-mile straight stretch headed into the trees of Wilson, and is usually the spot for a 'last-ditch effort to slow down before you go into Wilson,'" according to state police. "No brakes and excessive speed coming down the hill and corners — trying to do something to slow down but there wasn’t much to do at that point, unfortunately."

In other words, the brakes were already shot by the time they reached the level stretch at the bottom of the hill and ran into slower traffic.

It's a safe bet that innocent people die every year, simply due to ignorance of how to drive safely in the mountains. Yes, we can roll our eyes and say "Novice!", but we were all novices once. We were just lucky that we learned through experience, and from older and wiser RVing mentors, before our ignorance killed us.

Mountain driving in large RVs (and a Class A towing a full-sized pickup is LARGE!) isn't taught in driving classes, so unless a new owner takes special RV driving classes, how are they supposed to know what to do? I don't have an answer, other than those tips I linked to above, but something needs to be done to prevent unnecessary deaths.

Perhaps follow the example of some other countries and require special training and a special license for drivers with anything larger than a Class B? I know many owners would raise a howl at the idea, but something along the lines of a CDL for RVers could save lives that would otherwise be lost. If not a license, at least require some training.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #3
A lot of big RV owners are older and most haven't had any training driving something that weighs 45,000 pounds.
My buddy has a 42' Winnebago Tour and tows a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
When we get to places with downhills he puts on the engine retarder and he doesn't even need the brakes very often.
He can go down hills slower than me without using brakes.
Jota
96 23.5 FL

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #4
Sounds like a cross between inexperienced and impatience why over work your brakes when you can get in the correct gear for down hills ?
2005 T/K

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #5
Quote
When we get to places with downhills he puts on the engine retarder and he doesn't even need the brakes very often.

I recall reading that the driver was an experienced RVer and lived in a mountainous area of the country. As far as I know and jota mentioned, all diesel pushers have some kind of auxiliary braking system whether it be a transmission retarder, Jake Brake or exhaust brake so it seemed strange to me that an experienced driver would be riding his air brakes during the descent. As jota indicated those auxiliary systems allow the driver to maintain speed with little reliance on the air brakes. Wish we had more information on this.
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #6
Lazy Daze would have driven off after rolling over.  No big deal, it will buff right out.

Haven't we seen a LD roll that was still intact???

Bob
2000 MB

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #7
Not a complete rollover, but the difference between this incident and a class A rollover is still striking.
---------------
RV ROLLS OVER; BLOCKS HIGHWAY 108
By Dedrick Alla
16/08/2008

An RV rolled over Friday afternoon and blocked Highway 108 near Eich Road for two hours. (Picture provided by Mason County Chief Deputy Dean Byrd)

According to the State Patrol, a 1997 Lazy Daze 23-foot motorhome was eastbound on 108 about 1 PM. As the RV approached the intersection with Eich Road, about milepost 8, the driver fell asleep and the vehicle left the roadway to the right, struck a ditch and rolled onto its side, blocking both lanes of the highway. (Picture provided by Mason County Chief Deputy Dean Byrd)

A passenger in the motorhome, 76-year-old Ann Liepmhem, was transported to Mason General Hospital with undisclosed injuries. The driver of the RV, Gerald D. Lowrie, 74 of Port Orchard, and passenger Carol B. Lowrie, 73 of Port Orchard, were not injured. The Trooper report indicates that the cause of this crash was Gerald Lowrie falling asleep and he faces charges of Negligent Driving Second Degree.

X
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #8
Hey it never ends, causes our insurance rates to go higher, sad

Side note, I just had to drop The Hartford Ins, carrier after many years as a policy holder.   The new carrier-Farmers hasI
 save me substantial $ $  and more coverage.  I have been over paying with the Hartford, my fault and so it goes.

Look around folks, maybe you could save

Bob
2007 31 IB

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #9
That Lazy Daze photo makes me wonder if my roof reseal would be easier if I tip mine over O:)
Dave

2017 TK

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #10
That Lazy Daze photo makes me wonder if my roof reseal would be easier if I tip mine over O:)
You'd have to reset it before the self-leveling seal set up.  ;)
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #11
It is useful to note that the first responders are using the escape hatch to access the people inside.  The '97 year, like my '99 have that large hatch.  The factory stopped installing the large hatch and went to the 14" x 14" standard sized opening.  (about 2016?)
   If I planned on upgrading my rig to a newer model, I would enlarge that 'actual escape hatch' and revert to the bigger size.  No solar panels. That rectangle on the roof is where the TV antenna would be.  Still had the evaporative 'swamp' cooler.
   I'm sure it will be 'totaled' by the insurance company, because LD is no longer there to work on it. It might provide useable parts to someone, but is still a 27 year old donor.  Before the crash maybe a $15k valuation. To an insurance company going by NADA, worth about $4k, now not worth the paperwork.
   I'm glad that the occupants weren't seriously hurt. (seatbelts). The passenger was probably not belted.    RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #12
That Lazy Daze photo makes me wonder if my roof reseal would be easier if I tip mine over O:)

Yeah but, you'd want to flip it to the other side to do the bottom part, so a double-flip!  :D
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264

Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #13
"I'm sure it will be 'totaled' by the insurance company, because LD is no longer there to work on it."

I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't totaled' by their insurer, but that accident happened 16 years ago when Lazy Daze was still in business.

   edit:  sorry Andy, I didn't notice the date!
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"

 
Re: RV Crash on Teton Pass
Reply #14
Another one in Michigan

🚨TRAFFIC ALERT🚨
Northbound I-75 is at a standstill from I-475 in Mt. Morris Township to nearly M-57 in Clio due to a crash involving a camper.
Photo Credit: Angie Deese

Ron S
Ron and Linda
Ada Michigan