Trailering tragedy

[cobalt1999]

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ss...her.html#incart_2box_silive-homepage-featured

 

[Frank Acampora]

The questions I have are: Where were the safety chains and was the coupler locked down to prevent it bouncing off the ball? Was the ball the correct size for the coupler?

 

[bassman284]

I saw this in MSN.com taken from NYT. From the picture, there seems to be no sign of safety chains. Police source said the hitch had been modified in some way and it was not properly secured.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/boa...F5A?li=BBgzzfc

 

[bruceb58]

From the picture, looks like they had taken off the surge brake actuator and replaced it with a standard coupler.

 

[Thalasso]

Yes to all responses.

No safety chains
No brakes
No brake away cable

 

[fishin98]

I read the whole story...it just SUCKS..a little bit of effort by the driver to ensure the trailer was properly hooked up...a innocent life would not have been lost....EFFIN DOUCHE BAG!

 

[littlerayray]

This is the exact reason why I am so anal about my rig when I pin up to it I double and triple check for even short distances

 

[smokeonthewater]

Also the reason I like to suggest folks err on the side of caution selecting a tow rig and things like straps, safety chains, brakes, etc....

So many decide they are ok with a certain risk level but don't ask if the other drivers want to bet their lives on that risk and if they have the right to take that risk out and expose other people to it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Eh, if it comes off, I have insurance for that but no settlement brings mommy back home.

 

[Frank Acampora]

They ought to cut off his balls (on the truck that is, so he can't trailer again)

 

[poconojoe]

Terrible...a beautiful 22 year old innocent girl slaughtered because of a selfish person's negligence. He should be charged with manslaughter.

 

[Part-time]

Twice in my life I have had a trailer come off the ball.
A small utility trailer on which the latch just broke off...
and the other was an empty car hauler, the locking mechanism failed and let the knob to tighten the hitch spun loose.
But in both cases my safety chains kept the trailer right behind me just like they were meant to do.
Both times I was traveling at hwy speeds and I got to pull over safely without incident.
I think that the driver should be charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing death at the very least.