Truck and Trailer Crash on Shelter Cove Road Causes Lengthy Closure of Shelter Cove Rd. Last Night
[Photo provided by Shelter Cove Fire]
Antony reported that when firefighters arrived, they were surprised to find that despite the trailer and truck both being on their sides, there were no injuries. “We waited for the Highway Patrol to come, and then we had to divert traffic up above and at the bottom. …We diverted traffic for …almost four and a half hours,” Antony said.
The tow truck crew faced challenges in getting the large trailer upright and removed from the scene, requiring the assistance of an additional tow truck.
Antony noted that the driver indicated he may not have had the truck in a low enough gear while descending the steep hill, which could have contributed to the accident. “It does become a bit steep there. …You’re coming down a pretty big hill, and you have to be at a low speed so that you can handle whatever happens when you get down to the bottom,” Antony explained.
With a busy weekend ahead, including a large hospice fundraiser, Antony urged all drivers in the area to exercise extreme caution, keep their eyes on the road, and use the lowest gear possible, especially when towing heavy trailers. The scenic beauty of Shelter Cove, she said, is best appreciated once safely at the bottom of the hill.
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I pleased that there were no injuries involved in that accident. Travel trailers that size are required to have electric or hydraulic surge brakes in California. If there was a malfunction in either type of system, it could lead to having no trailer brakes period. Apparently, the truck was not equipped with large enough truck brakes to being the whole load to a safe stop, but the driver indicated he may not have had the truck in a low enough gear. I am guessing he had an automatic transmission.
They are required to have brakes on the trailer but they are not sufficient to slow the truck down. Drivers must use appropriate gears to slow the truck down. Another consideration is the weight of the trailer and the towing capacity of the vehicle towing the trailer and if it has sufficient breaking power for the load.
On mild sloping roads the trailer brakes will help to slow the load a little but will not stop the trailer and truck. I could not really tell if the gentleman had a half ton or three-quarter ton truck buy looking at the rear axle. Can’t tell if it had drum brakes or disc brakes.
Why don’t people use low gears in automatic tranny vehicles? It’s right there, usually there’s D and also 3, 2, and 1. But people don’t seem to know they’re available. What say you, Martin? Maybe they ARE available but they don’t actually work, that is, direct the transmission to the gear chosen by the driver?
A lot of people don’t use the low gears in automatic transmissions because they lack the knowledge to do so or have never pulled a travel trailer that size.
I remember in the late 80’s building boom delivering lumber down there I had the oldest Copeland lumber truck. I would stop at the top and compound low to the bottom. Mechanical brakes. No air brakes. Sometimes twice a day.
Now that’s how we trucked the West ??
Even in sedans, I know people who’ve over-heated and lost their brakes on these coastal descents.
Believe me, when riding my bicycle down 11th St. in Arcata today, I made liberal use of my brakes; Rule #1, Never trust the drivers.
If you’re curious, Rule #2 is Never surprise the dog.