Driver Inattention: Trucker Kills LEO

[No Joy]

Porn addict truck driver surfing Facebook for risqué photos plows into police cars, killing a LEO. RIP

Dashboard video of trucker who crashed into police cars
http://youtu.be/l1Tc0qtLA2E

Video Captures Trucker Barreling Into a Police Cruiser and Killing a Cop — What He Was Reportedly Ogling On His Phone at the Time Is Startling
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...ogling-on-his-phone-at-the-time-is-startling/

A truck driver was looking at his cell phone — specifically at Facebook “photographs of several women in provocative positions, wearing little clothing” — when he plowed into three police cruisers and two fire trucks, killing one officer, records show.

Espinoza was also looking at Facebook photographs “of a woman in a low cut dress” and a man “smoking something” around the time of impact, according to records; on other occasions Espinoza used his phone to look at female escort web pages, porn sites and other web pages when logged in as driving, investigators said.

 

[SCCutler]

Jesus.

 

[ClimbnSink]

Meanwhile cops are driving around listening to the radio, using a mounted laptop, running a radar gun and texting. Most everyone is guilty of this stuff. Despite the cost it will continue.

 

[steingar]

Sorry, this comes as no surprise to me. Too damn many drivers are looking at their thrice damned screens or yakking away about inconsequential felderkarb while driving not looking out for anyone or anything. When I cut my teeth on two-wheeled motorized transportation I'd have to pull an escape maneuver once a month or less. Now it's a regular event, indeed it is noteworthy when I don't have to.

You drivers might think you're safe in your cages but you aren't. There's always some inattentive fellow with a bigger hunk of metal. At least on the bike I can get away.

 

[DavidWhite]

Sorry, this comes as no surprise to me. Too damn many drivers are looking at their thrice damned screens or yakking away about inconsequential felderkarb while driving not looking out for anyone or anything. When I cut my teeth on two-wheeled motorized transportation I'd have to pull an escape maneuver once a month or less. Now it's a regular event, indeed it is noteworthy when I don't have to.

You drivers might think you're safe in your cages but you aren't. There's always some inattentive fellow with a bigger hunk of metal. At least on the bike I can get away.

Yup - I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[steingar]

Yup - I agree wholeheartedly.

Glad you're on that Kowalski. At its heart beats one of the world's most powerful racing engines. It will get you out of the way in a big hurry.

 

[slinger]

I once talked on the radio in an airplane; without a flightplan.

 

[us AAirways]

Sorry, this comes as no surprise to me. Too damn many drivers are looking at their thrice damned screens or yakking away about inconsequential felderkarb while driving not looking out for anyone or anything. When I cut my teeth on two-wheeled motorized transportation I'd have to pull an escape maneuver once a month or less. Now it's a regular event, indeed it is noteworthy when I don't have to.

You drivers might think you're safe in your cages but you aren't. There's always some inattentive fellow with a bigger hunk of metal. At least on the bike I can get away.

If someone runs into me because of that, they better hope they kill me because they are going to be extremely sorry.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Last I checked, it is not only normal to have sexual desires, but the existence of the human race exists because of those desires, not despite it.

If sexual desires, like eating or sleeping, are kept unsatisfied for too long then people end up doing stupid or dangerous things.

 

[N801BH]

If someone runs into me because of that, they better hope they kill me because they are going to be extremely sorry.

+1...

 

[Corpsmaide]

Rest ip peace Brother! Blessings to the family, friends, and loved ones. I've almost had my doors blown off on traffic stops. Scary.

 

[Hawker800]

He'll get all the sex he wants now.

 

[Henning]

Maybe now cops will think twice about blocking a traffic lane for absolutely no reason.

 

[Corpsmaide]

Maybe now cops will think twice about blocking a traffic lane for absolutely no reason.

Are you serious? I feel like I should explain why we block a lane if we can. But I'll let you think about it.

 

[ebykowsky]

He'll get all the sex he wants now.

This reads like a "corrupt my wish" thread.

 

[Henning]

Are you serious? I feel like I should explain why we block a lane if we can. But I'll let you think about it.

You shouldn't unless there is an obstruction or hazard in the lane. All it does is cause traffic jams and accidents; like this one.

 

[Corpsmaide]

You shouldn't unless there is an obstruction or hazard in the lane. All it does is cause traffic jams and accidents; like this one.

Hmmmmm, what about working a wreck on the shoulder, like this one, and you need to block part of the lane so you can safely work the wreck, preserve evidence, make room for the wrecker, ambulance, fire to arrive and clear the fluid from the roadway. There are many more reasons. I hope now you have a better understanding. sir

 

[35 AoA]

Yeah, on second look, WTF. I'm not saying the police officer was at fault here.......god knows, if something as big as a patrol car is in a traffic lane that I am driving in, and I slam into it, it is my fault. BUT..........I too wonder why this is needed, given that all other vehicles in the scene are fully on the shoulder. I've not seen a cop do this actually, but it seems strange.

 

[flyingron]

We had two of my daughter's classmates killed when a dump truck driver fell asleep and plowed into them at a red light. My neighbor on the airpark was a high seniority US Air pilot when he was put in a wheelchair by a tanker truck driver who decided that it wasn't worth the effort to slow down for the stopped traffic ahead (and apparently not his first accident in this manner either).

 

[wickedsprint]

Maybe now cops will think twice about blocking a traffic lane for absolutely no reason.

I doubt you would say this to his grieving family.

 

[thezoolityre]

We had two of my daughter's classmates killed when a dump truck driver fell asleep and plowed into them at a red light. My neighbor on the airpark was a high seniority US Air pilot when he was put in a wheelchair by a tanker truck driver who decided that it wasn't worth the effort to slow down for the stopped traffic ahead (and apparently not his first accident in this manner either).

It's reasons like this, especially of videos I have seen about this... I always leave some room in front of me and if a big truck's on its way I ALWAYS watch him to see if he is slowing down, if not, ill just slide off to the side... The big thing that scares the living schit out of me is highway driving at night, and a lose tire flopping over the median and right into my car... happened to my buddies sister... good thing she had ID in her purse... otherwise her body wasn't even recognizable.

 

[Henning]

I doubt you would say this to his grieving family.

No, it's a shame, but to park in a motion lane of an interstate is just poor policy. There is a reason that when the highway department does such things they use big trucks with energy absorbers on the back.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

No, it's a shame, but to park in a motion lane of an interstate is just poor policy. There is a reason that when the highway department does such things they use big trucks with energy absorbers on the back.

It almost reads like you are exonerating the trucker for not having their eyes out the cab as they should be doing. As for what the cop was doing there, I can't say, neither can you as we weren't there.

 

[silver-eagle]

There are those who are easily distracted. Being in a 3 or 4 thousand/stone/ton vehicle will not change that. People cannot even walk down the street without having their head down looking at their handheld electronics.
Condolences to the officers families. I hope they toss the driver in a dark hole forever.

 

[denverpilot]

It almost reads like you are exonerating the trucker for not having their eyes out the cab as they should be doing. As for what the cop was doing there, I can't say, neither can you as we weren't there.

Both can be wrong simultaneously you know. There's a reason it's called an accident chain of events.

 

[Henning]

It almost reads like you are exonerating the trucker for not having their eyes out the cab as they should be doing. As for what the cop was doing there, I can't say, neither can you as we weren't there.

Not at all, not exonerating anyone for anything,just pointing out that parking in a motion lane on a freeway is plain old stupid.

 

[Corpsmaide]

Not at all, not exonerating anyone for anything,just pointing out that parking in a motion lane on a freeway is plain old stupid.

Even after I gave some real world examples why the patrol car would be there?

 

[flyingcheesehead]

We had two of my daughter's classmates killed when a dump truck driver fell asleep and plowed into them at a red light. My neighbor on the airpark was a high seniority US Air pilot when he was put in a wheelchair by a tanker truck driver who decided that it wasn't worth the effort to slow down for the stopped traffic ahead (and apparently not his first accident in this manner either).

This sounds just like the "Here's a list of every accident in this half of the state since the early 1970's" that we see in newspaper articles about plane crashes.

Let's get rid of all the trucks!

 

[N918KT]

Not at all, not exonerating anyone for anything,just pointing out that parking in a motion lane on a freeway is plain old stupid.

I agree with Henning that parking in a moving lane is against common sense. But I understand Corpsemaide's reasons why there are certain instances where a police car should be parked in a moving lane.

If a cop car must be parked in a moving lane, at least he should provide signs hundreds of feet before the car letting drivers know that there is a parked vehicle in a moving lane.

 

[Henning]

Even after I gave some real world examples why the patrol car would be there?

Yep, the patrol car is the wrong asset for the job, if this video didn't make that obvious, I don't know what would. Besides, "preserving evidence" is a red herring considering that people in most states are told "Move accident vehicles out of the traffic lanes". The ONLY vehicle stopped in the motion lanes was the cop car, it was a stupid move, and if it was "policy" it was stupid policy and likely there will be a family member, rightly, suing the department for setting a policy that ultimately lead to this tragedy.

 

[3393RP]

I agree with you that parking in a moving lane is against common sense. But I understand Corpsemaide's reasons why there are certain instances where a police car should be parked in a moving lane.

If a cop car must be parked in a moving lane, at least he should provide signs hundreds of feet before the car letting drivers know that there is a parked vehicle in a moving lane.

I understand the idea of placing the police vehicle in a travel lane to protect the accident scene workers, but sitting in the car and exposing himself to the danger of an inattentive driver was poor judgement by the deceased.

Sure, park the car there with emergency lights on, but sit in it? That was not smart.

It amazes me how many accidents occur when a car traveling at highway speeds crashes into a vehicle parked on the shoulder. I guess people veer off the road to the right all the time, it's just that sometimes there's a vehicle on the shoulder waiting for them. The randomness of it all...

Here's a couple of examples...it happens all the time.

http://southbury.patch.com/groups/p...hbury-residents-17-and-20-killed-in-car-crash

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-03-08/news/1998067083_1_southbound-police-car-trauma-center

 

[Henning]

First thing one is taught in rescue is "Don't become a victim". One other thing about "preserving evidence", unless the situation is one where there will be criminal proceedings, why bother? (Not that I ever see it happen) Most states use "no fault" insurance, nobody cares about the accident evidence, and in this video I didn't see anything that indicated any major accident, looked like a traffic stop.

 

[weilke]

I understand the idea of placing the police vehicle in a travel lane to protect the accident scene workers, but sitting in the car and exposing himself to the danger of an inattentive driver was poor judgement by the deceased.

Sure, park the car there with emergency lights on, but sit in it? That was not smart.

It wasn't the officer in the car that he hit who died. It was the one in the cruiser parked on the shoulder.

 

[Henning]

It wasn't the officer in the car that he hit who died. It was the one in the cruiser parked on the shoulder.

Who was only hit because the car parked in the roadway altered the trucks trajectory. It was just dumb, there was no one/thing working on the roadway.

 

[weilke]

Who was only hit because the car parked in the roadway altered the trucks trajectory. It was just dumb, there was no one/thing working on the roadway.

The argument I responded to was that it would have made more sense to park the cruiser in the roadway but not have an officer in it. Wouldn't have made a difference.

I agree with your general disdain for cops blocking travel lanes for no good reason. In this case, they had fire-trucks and a wrecker working the crash, I can see how they wanted to enforce the 'move over for emergency vehicles' rules by blocking the lane. The only thing that works against knucklehead truckers is a loaded salt-truck with one of those crumple trailers that you see protecting mobile construction sites at times.

 

[N801BH]

Sorry.... I am late to this party.....

Henning has a point about not parking police vehicles in the travel lane... The other posters have a point about needing to protect the safety of the crash site and the clean up crew..

1- In most, if not all states you are required to change lanes when an emergency vehicle or private vehicle is displaying their flashers/lights etc... Even if one is just pulled over to change a tire..

2-The driver of the truck needs to be charged with vehicular homicide and he is an absolute danger to society.

3- If you look close there is ALOT of what looks like oil on the roadway when the original crash vehicle went off. I am guessing it blew the motor and slid in the oil and the police car was parked there to prevent others from sliding in that oil slick.... Ironically, the out of control truck followed the exact same path as the first vehicle went. IMHO...

4- Did I mention the truck driver needs to go to jail for along time?

 

[No Joy]

Maybe now cops will think twice about blocking a traffic lane for absolutely no reason.

The police officer is a hero; that died doing his duty, trying to protect and serve. He and his vehicle may have saved the lives of other emergency responders. I think it's wrong to try to demonize him. How hateful and heartless of you.

Low intelligence and low information people think the lane shouldn't be blocked.

Emergency responders (often even tow truck operators) often have to go out into a neighboring lane to do their job.

How would you feel if a loved one was stopped along side of the road, and was hit and killed as your loved one was being extracted from the vehicle?

Putting a vehicle out in the neighboring lane helps direct traffic around an accident. It is an alternative to setting up a roadblock, stopping all traffic in neighboring lanes. Guess what, accidents would still happen.

Putting a vehicle out in the neighboring lane, also helps absorb energy and often stops vehicles before they reach an accident. It protects emergency responders and victims.

The truck driver is at fault, not the police officer.

LEOs and other emergency responders should learn from railroad engineering practices. I don't know if they still do the same thing, but in the old days if a train broke down, a bridge was out or if there was some other hazard, a crew member would take a device and walk about a mile behind the train and place a warning device on the track that exploded if another train passed over the warning device. The device made a loud noise, that helped alert railroad engineers to stop their train. The explosion also helped alert the stranded train, that there was a potential train wreck about to happen, and allow time for people to egress.

I think emergency responders should carry a device like a sawhorse barricade, with lights, and with an exploding device to make a loud noise if a driver hits the sawhorse barricade. A portable speedbump, and road cones could help supplement or serve as a substitute. This would help alert emergency responders and it would help alert inattentive drivers. Whenever reasonably possible, such a device should probably be placed 30 seconds of normal travel from a closed lane.

 

[EppyGA]

I agree with Henning that parking in a moving lane is against common sense. But I understand Corpsemaide's reasons why there are certain instances where a police car should be parked in a moving lane.

If a cop car must be parked in a moving lane, at least he should provide signs hundreds of feet before the car letting drivers know that there is a parked vehicle in a moving lane.

In this particular instance it is quite likely that would have made no difference.

 

[EppyGA]

Just wondering out loud here. Let's say we all agree that blocking the lane with the patrol car was the right thing to do to protect those further down the road.

Might was also not agree that sitting in said patrol car was the absolute dumbest thing to do? Someone have a reason for the officer, said hero, to have remained sitting in what became a stationary target?

 

[Pilot Nick]

Yeah, on second look, WTF. I'm not saying the police officer was at fault here.......god knows, if something as big as a patrol car is in a traffic lane that I am driving in, and I slam into it, it is my fault. BUT..........I too wonder why this is needed, given that all other vehicles in the scene are fully on the shoulder. I've not seen a cop do this actually, but it seems strange.

Truck driver was at fault. We can argue all day about changing laws to prevent this. BUT, The police have direct control of what the police do. A policy to fix this problem could be to limit the amount time things spend in active lanes. I do believe that the police do this to protect the vehicle on the side of the road. Why not pull all vehicles/people much further to the side, out of the way. Or have this cop much further back and put flares/cones a half mile back? Easy to carry in the back of a cruiser and cheap way to save a life.

Anyways, I wish the people who spend so much effort on distracted driving would spend more effort on robotic vehicles. The google car would not have hit the cop....