09-29-2008, 09:51 PM
MOORE HAVEN: Six are dead in a crash between a tractor trailer and a van on SR-29 at SR-78.
Florida Highway Patrol says the accident happened at 6:30 a.m. when the semi, which was on SR-78, ran through a stop sign and crashed into the van.
Deputies say the tractor trailer driver, 66-year-old Ewing Saunders, showed no sign that he attempted to slow down.
Witnesses at the scene say there are multiple warnings about the stop sign, where SR-78 ends and vehicles have to turn either right or left. They say Saunders shouldn't have missed the warnings.
Authorities say Saunders is in serious condition.
The road has one lane reopened, but 50 gallons of diesel spilled onto the road and needs to be cleaned up, FHP says.
6 men are confirmed dead, with 4 of them being ejected because they were not wearing seatbelts. Identities are pending due to notification of next of kin.[/quote]
It don't look like seatbelts would have helped these guys, they got creamed by a SEMI!!!! When is the legislature going to wake up and increase fines/penalties for log book violations and sleepy/tired drivers of CMV's and the carriers? Oh, and not to mention only 250 FDOT/MCC officers for the ENTIRE STATE! including the brass. CMV's running into school buses and killing people all over the state-fines/penalties do not fit the crime in Florida (1 driver locked up, out of how many?), a $100 fine for a false log or no log-whoopeedooo! the trucking companies say they don't care by letting drivers drive until they kill somebody. We must stop these motor carriers from encouraging sleepy driving by truck drivers, this is really preventable, senceless deaths. Let's merge and go through both academys, I'm game, let's do it.
Florida Highway Patrol says the accident happened at 6:30 a.m. when the semi, which was on SR-78, ran through a stop sign and crashed into the van.
Deputies say the tractor trailer driver, 66-year-old Ewing Saunders, showed no sign that he attempted to slow down.
Witnesses at the scene say there are multiple warnings about the stop sign, where SR-78 ends and vehicles have to turn either right or left. They say Saunders shouldn't have missed the warnings.
Authorities say Saunders is in serious condition.
The road has one lane reopened, but 50 gallons of diesel spilled onto the road and needs to be cleaned up, FHP says.
6 men are confirmed dead, with 4 of them being ejected because they were not wearing seatbelts. Identities are pending due to notification of next of kin.[/quote]
It don't look like seatbelts would have helped these guys, they got creamed by a SEMI!!!! When is the legislature going to wake up and increase fines/penalties for log book violations and sleepy/tired drivers of CMV's and the carriers? Oh, and not to mention only 250 FDOT/MCC officers for the ENTIRE STATE! including the brass. CMV's running into school buses and killing people all over the state-fines/penalties do not fit the crime in Florida (1 driver locked up, out of how many?), a $100 fine for a false log or no log-whoopeedooo! the trucking companies say they don't care by letting drivers drive until they kill somebody. We must stop these motor carriers from encouraging sleepy driving by truck drivers, this is really preventable, senceless deaths. Let's merge and go through both academys, I'm game, let's do it.