77-Year-Old Driver of Semi That Overturned on 101 South of Leggett Received ‘Serious Injuries,’ According to CHP

Workers examine the overturned semi.

Workers examine the overturned semi. [Crop of a photo by Melissa Oglesby]

Press release from the CHP:

On July 10, 2018, at approximately 2:35 pm, a 2012 Peterbilt Tractor, being driven by Donald Lind of Fort Bragg, CA [age 77] was traveling northbound on US-101, north of Bell Springs Road within the #2 lane. A 2018 Mazda 6 sedan, driven by Victoria Justen of Grand Ronde, OR was traveling northbound on US-101, north of Bell Springs Road, within the #1 lane. For reasons still under investigation, the Peterbilt overturned while traveling through a curve in the roadway. As a result of the Peterbilt overturning, the cab of the Peterbilt collided into the rear of the Mazda. Due to the collision, a load of logs spilled across all lanes of US-101. US-101 was shut down intermittently for approximately 4 hours due to the recovery and clean up of the scene. Mr. Lind was airlifted from the scene with suspected serious injuries and transported to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, CA. This collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, Garberville Area.

The CHP would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance with this collision: California Department of Transportation, Leggett CAL-Fire, Leggett Volunteer Fire Department, Reach Air Ambulance and Laytonville ambulance as well as the many citizens who stopped at the scene and assisted emergency personnel.

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44 Comments
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Dan Jenkins
Guest
Dan Jenkins
5 years ago

Is that correct? 77 years old and driving big rigs!

patrick cherry
Guest
patrick cherry
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan Jenkins

if you pass the physical you can drive at any age above 18.his age will have nothing to do with this accident,this is sumthing only a youngster would say

#olderbutbetter
Guest
#olderbutbetter
5 years ago
Reply to  patrick cherry

Thank you Pat. Well put.

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
5 years ago
Reply to  patrick cherry

>”if you pass the physical you can drive at any age above 18.his age will have nothing to do with this accident,this is sumthing only a youngster would say”

I’m not a youngster… and absolutely don’t agree with that.
Unfortunately, age takes it’s toll. Both in reaction time, judgement,
and possibly other ‘medical events’.
California/National law is wildly ‘politically correct’.

Maybe we should let airline pilots fly till 80 years old… or 90 ????
Yeah, why not !!!!

CA
Guest
CA
5 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

Sorry bozo-
Maybe we should let kids drive at 16? Insane, no? Maybe we should let everyone drive with their cell phones?

What groups cause the most fatalities?

I’ll stick with experience and age any day.

Dan Jenkins
Guest
Dan Jenkins
5 years ago
Reply to  patrick cherry

I’m 68 and in good health. I’m not stupid enough to believe that my reactions and physical ability is the same as it was when I was 20. Pushing a big rig at 77 is asking for it.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan Jenkins

Obviously, he passed his physical and was in good condition to be driving.
Don’t judge someone just based on a number.
Have you ever noticed how people drive around semis? I see it all the time. People cut them off, drive like maniacs to get around them. I’ve seen them attempt to run trucks off the road and worse. Just extremely unsafe driving and it happens ALL the time.
Not saying that’s what happened here. We’ll have to see when the investigation is over. Numerous reasons it could have happened. But it wouldn’t surprise me if this was the reason.

44 MAGNUM
Guest
44 MAGNUM
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan Jenkins

Who the hell do you think taught the young drivers to drive ? It sure and the hell wasn’t a book or a video game !!

Christine
Guest
Christine
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan Jenkins

yeah.. too old to be driving big rigs. Scary!

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan Jenkins

Unfortunate that the economy doesn’t allow some folks to retire in a timely fashion.

No time for nonsense.
Guest
No time for nonsense.
5 years ago

I’m sure it is. The work force is very limited in younger people. Most of the 20 to 40 year olds in this county are inexperienced and used to making money growing pot. They haven’t had to get out and really work. They’ve been on their own schedules for their entire lives. Times are changing. In the mean time people that know how to log,drive truck etc. are getting old. My favorite line from a young farmer is I don’t get up before 9:00 and never will. If you want to eat you will!

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

There is a substantial shortage of truck drivers all over the country. Old men and women are driving trucks everywhere. Young people have developed a strange form of ageism. They blame us for all the ills of the country while not voting. The old mostly have had to work for a living their entire lives and for most of us, it’s the only way to make a living and maybe find decent medical insurance.

25 year old trucker.
Guest
25 year old trucker.
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

#1, age isn’t a factor in truck wrecks, it’s inexperienced drivers behind the wheel, #2 the way people drive around trucks, is a huge factor in most truck wrecks. Im 25, I have my class A license. And the 4 years I have been driving, I see a lot of bad apples behind the wheel of trucks, I used to be one of them until I realized, “hey, maybe I should slow down”. I let the cars do what they want to do, but I won’t go over 60 mph. I have a Dashcam to record my drive and that has been very very useful. That’s besides the point. Speed was definitely a factor in this crash. That corner will get you if you’re not paying attention. Im not saying I’m the greatest driver in the county,but I’ve driven 101 enough to know, that road is not a road for people to be speeding In trucks. Everyone, drive safe. Please.

Eddie W
Guest
Eddie W
5 years ago

Gotta respect that man’s work ethic! Hope Mr Lind makes a speedy recovery.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago

What about the open container found in the truck??? Was he charged with a DUI???

Annoyed
Guest
Annoyed
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Where does it say anything about an open container?

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  Annoyed

In the CHP report it states there was an open container found in the truck!!! They were supposed to question him & possibly do a blood draw or to check his BAL!!!

Christine
Guest
Christine
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Open container? oh dear

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Where did you see that report?

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I can’t see where this is. On neither this article nor the earlier one has anything I can find. Maybe not available on mobile device?

patrick cherry
Guest
patrick cherry
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

if its in his sleeper and not in his bloodsteam probably not.i believe the sleeper comes under the resident rules,i think they even need a warrant to search the sleeping quarters aside from a wreck.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  patrick cherry

none of that is correct. an open container in the sleeper while moving is breaking the law.

25 year old trucker.
Guest
25 year old trucker.
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

It’s a day cab. No sleeper on that truck.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  patrick cherry

I think the word you were looking for was Residence!!!

patrick cherry
Guest
patrick cherry
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

thats what i said-what did you hear-lol

at a loss
Guest
at a loss
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Such a sad comment. It could have been anything.

Big louie
Guest
Big louie
5 years ago

Im thinking his load shifted

Bpalmer
Guest
Bpalmer
5 years ago
Reply to  Big louie

I agree. I come from a long line of log truck drivers and the load most likely shifted. It happens!

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  Big louie

I’m thinking he shouldn’t have been hauling logs on a flatbed in the first place!!!

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  Big louie

His load probably shifted to his pants.

I like stars too!
Guest
I like stars too!
5 years ago

If the older workers stop working, all you kids would be hard up tomorrow!

I would like to retire, but someone has to get the work out…

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago

I’m sure you’re a great worker but the world will probably still function even if you retire.

CB
Guest
CB
5 years ago

At no time is alcohol allowed in a commercial vehicle, open or not, Drivers can and have been cited for have listerine and nyquil in the truck, even in the sleeper, unless it is on a manifest (freight bill) it is prohibited. Just take a minute to read. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/392.5
Don’t let them kid you about safe in the sleeper, there is no residence rule. That will go where they want, and look where they want, besides this truck didn’t even have a sleeper.
With the typical speculation on this site, the car may have done something, in front of him to cause it.
If the load shifted it wasn’t’ tied down properly or he was going to fast. I hauled logs on a flatbed for several years 20 years ago when it was first started around here. So I do know what I’m talking about.
As for age, he had a physical, probability annually, That is very stringent now days, and must of passed to have a valid license. Besides age is just a number, most of the old guys around today, can out work any of these young steering wheel holders out there. Not all, there are a few good young drivers, but some of them now days can’t even shift, or even know how, with automatic trannys.

patrick cherry
Guest
patrick cherry
5 years ago
Reply to  CB

thanks for the clarification

patrick cherry
Guest
patrick cherry
5 years ago
Reply to  CB

when i were a kid i ran off a logging road into a ditch,i tried to say what happened to get out of my rookie mistake,BUT there wasn’t an older driver there that didn’t know what really happened-lol.the experienced KNOW

at a loss
Guest
at a loss
5 years ago
Reply to  CB

CB, I would agree with you. The truck was almost at the re-entry from the rest stop and the Mazda’s rear bumper was on the side of the road. I suspect Mazda was re-entering highway without adequate check and truck tried to avoid collision by braking causing “fishtailing of load” which flipped the truck due to weight. Just speculating. There are near misses on 101 weekly especially north of Willits.

Miguel
Guest
Miguel
5 years ago

Good thing Dan is around to set us straight. !!!!

Youngster
Guest
Youngster
5 years ago

Haha all the old heads are getting defensive. Aside from the relative story. You baby boomers need to start taking responsibility for your actions, and stop passing it off on the next generation.

Tumbleweeed
Guest
Tumbleweeed
5 years ago
Reply to  Youngster

Old heads? Passing it off? What?

Bluehaired Hillbetty
Guest
Bluehaired Hillbetty
5 years ago
Reply to  Youngster

Youngster, I hope you take your own advice when your an oldster.

Gail
Guest
Gail
5 years ago
Reply to  Youngster

Grow up! Your day is coming! You smart ass young punks think you know everything. We all did! But when you do grow up, you will have a whole new outlook on age and capability’s. Young people today don’t know anything about work ethics or responsibility. When you are seventy seven, I hope you are still working. If not, you won’t survive. Social security isn’t enough to live on. That’s why Baby boomers are still working. Your day is coming!

R -DOG
Guest
R -DOG
5 years ago

This man was hauling old growth logs when your mama was still shitimg her pants i dont think his driving skills had not a thing to do with this crash