According to the Idaho State Police, witnesses on Interstate 84 saw the driver of a 2004 F-350 pulling an approximately 30-foot camp trailer lose control. Witnesses told police the truck hit the right-side barrier, then swerved and smashed into the left-side barrier, eventually tipping over the barrier and nearly plummeting into Malad Gorge some 80-100 feet below.
Nearly, but not quite. In an unbelievable turn of fortune, the safety chain connecting the pickup and camper held the entire weight of the truck — which dangled facedown into the gorge — while the camper remained pressed against the barrier.
The occupants, a 67-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, had no serious injuries.
MVP Special Operations Rescue Team (SORT) arrived via helicopter, rappelled down, and attached harnesses to each of the occupants. They also rescued two small dogs that were in the truck. All four occupants were transported safely with what officials said were “non-life-threatening injuries.”
Wow!
ReplyDeleteLottery ticket time.
ReplyDeleteRoger that.
DeleteThey used up their luck by staying alive. They probably had the trailer loaded heavy in the rear. Maybe they will learn this time.
DeleteThey’re each going to need new underwear, pants, and at a minimum new seat covers. Holy schnikeys...
ReplyDeleteharrowing
ReplyDeleteThat's why you always attach the safety chains.
ReplyDeleteThere's luck and there's LUCK.
ReplyDeleteAt least they had a spectacular panoramic view of the gorge most people will never get.
ReplyDeleteI used to work for a man that said he used dog chain as his safety chains for his boat trailer. He said that if it came unhitched he wanted the chains to break so he could get away from it. One of the other Draftsmen in the office shamed him by pointing out that he would be endangering other drivers if that happened. Norman admitted that he was wrong and John still had a job.
ReplyDeleteAH! The good old days!
DeleteWonder if they weren't using a weight distribution hitch, or sway control.
ReplyDeleteThis is Idaho not 'fornia....we can't afford those fancy hitches!
DeleteLooks like the green semi was chained up and used as an anchor.
ReplyDeleteSmart thinking! Thank a Trucker!
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