Another Semi Crash

 

Yesterday, I was planning to go into Gallup to pick up some groceries for home and for Thanksgiving Day. During our group's morning coffee at Denny's, we noticed that eastbound I-40 traffic was slowing and eventually stopped. 

Before we departed Denny's, I checked my phone for the traffic report and it said that the highway would be closed for two hours due to an accident in the Coolidge area. Well, as it turned out, the highway eastbound was closed a lot longer than two hours and vehicles were backed up to the McGaffey exit. The snarl stretched into the late afternoon.

I still could have gone into Gallup, as the westbound lane were clear. Getting back home is another story. So I decided to wait until today before going into Gallup. 

Later, I saw some details on the traffic snarl. 

This is from the McKinley County Sheriff:

One lane is open. Traffic is slow in the area.

I40, eastbound near the 41.5 MM (just east of Flying J), will be closed for about 2 hours. Crews are working in the area to clean up debris from a semi crash that occurred earlier. Back up starts near the 39 MM, by Flying J. Please seek an alternate route.

It never fails. Most accidents on Interstate 40 always seem to involve semi trucks.  

Fatal Collision On I-40 Down The Hill

 

The above accident happened last night just down the hill from our community.

Apparently, a wrong-way drunk driver collided with a semi-truck on the eastbound Interstate 40 lanes. Another semi-truck was also involved. It was hit by the first semi. One lane in each direction were closed for several hours. 

I was able to see a long line of stopped vehicles in the eastbound lanes from my kitchen window.

For details, go here.

RV Travel: 7 Ways To Accidentally Die In Your RV

Hardly a week goes by that a news report about someone getting killed in an RV, either in a motorhome or a towable, is posted online or in the news.

RV Travel in today's Newsletter spells out seven ways to accidentally die in an RV.

They start with:

We all know it can be a dangerous world out there and we know that driving or towing an RV can be fraught with mortal accidents. This isn’t about the driving hazards of low bridges, wrong turns, road construction, tire blowouts or errant drivers. There are other ways to accidentally die in an RV. Here they are.

To read further, go here. 

Storm Has Arrived

Above, the front yard a few minutes ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a good thing that I went to bed at 8:00 as I woke up an hour or so due to allergy congestion. 

I took a look outside and the snow storm has arrived.

At present, we have about a half inch of snow on the ground. At least it isn't as bad (yet!) as Flagstaff, Arizona where they are getting pummeled. It is a light dusting, more or less. We can still use more.

Interstate 40, east and west bound lanes are closed from Winslow to Ash Fork due to snow and a bad accident near Williams involving semi trucks with some fatalities. 

Here is a photo of Gallup a few hours ago from the New Mexico Dept. of Transportation camera:

The rule of thumb out here is, if you don't need to drive anywhere, don't. Just stay home.

Yosemite Is One of the Deadliest National Parks

Above, Yosemite's Half Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

National parks have been beacons of wonder for those who visit them. They also can be deadly for visitors who aren't careful.

That is the subject of an article in the Fresno Bee.

Some national parks are more dangerous than others. Yosemite National Park is listed as the third deadliest national park according to the article.

They begin with:

Yosemite National Park is a popular place to take in picturesque views and marvelous waterfalls, as well as enjoy a variety of outdoor adventures, including hiking. 

But did you know Yosemite also is considered one of the deadliest national parks in the United States? 

According to data collected from personal injury firm Malloy Law Offices, the national park in Central California ranks as the third deadliest national park in the country with 125 fatal incidents from 2014 to 2023. 

Of those fatal incidents, 42 were related to falling.

To read more, go here.

Clampers Involved In Fatal Accident

E Clampus Vitus is in mourning as one of its members was killed and several others were injured in a morning traffic accident Sunday in the South Sacramento area.

Action News Now reported:

PARADISE, Calif. - The Clampers (E Clampus Vitus or ECV) of Paradise are grieving Sunday after a morning freeway incident on Highway 50 in South Sacramento that ended with the death of one of their members and major injuries for four other Clampers.

The ride was held by the Vituscan Riders, made up of Clampers who love to ride motorcycles who live in Sacramento or other parts of Northern California. 

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) told our sister NBC-affiliate station (KCRA) that the crash involved 13 motorcycles and a car. It occurred at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

KCRA said the CHP told them that five people were transported for medical care with major injuries, and that one person died at the hospital.

On Sunday the Paradise Clamper Humbug (president) Dustin Hawley told Action News Now that the motorcycle rider who died was a Paradise Clamper named Brian Shaw. He was 45 years old. 

To read more, go here. 

Condolences to the family and friends of Brian Shaw. To help the Shaw Family, a Go Fund Me page has been set up. Go here.

A Little Problem With The Garage Door

When I got home last Friday from the Iowa trip, after unpacking, I went to get the Jeep out of the garage so I could go down to the post office at the Flying J to get my mail.

Above, the garage door after hitting it and getting it fully opened. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After starting up the Jeep, I started backing. Looking with the rear-view and side-view mirrors, it was clear for me to back out of the garage, or so I thought. Then, suddenly, bang! The top of the Jeep, where one of the roll bars is located, hit the roll-up garage door. I thought I opened it completely, but about 18" of it was still down. That's what I hit. 

The Jeep hit the bottom door crossbar and bent the bottom panel. It knocked the door off one of its tracks. I did manage to fully open the door thanks to a handy crowbar. After getting the Jeep out, I went to the post office and got my mail. There was no damage to the Jeep (thank God).

I decided to keep the Jeep out of the garage and parked the motorhome up near the door so nobody could get in (not counting critters). I then called some garage door repairers and arranged to have one look it over. He came over today and said the door was repairable. He also managed to get the door all the way closed. He will be back to do the repairs in a few days.

When I first called him, he asked me how long have I lived there. I told him over six and a half years. He replied, "And this is the first time you hit the door after six years?!" Apparently, this is a common occurrence. A friend, who shall remain nameless, backed into his garage door twice. 

I then put the motorhome into the GOCO Beast Barn so that it would be protected from the cold night we're expecting tomorrow night. The temperature is expected to go down into the 20s.

Since the garage door is now securely closed, I can go to Gallup for some grocery shopping tomorrow.

Oh, well. Shit happens! 

UPDATE (10/30/24):

The door was fixed this morning for under $100. Whew!

Wienermobile Rolls Over On Chicago Freeway

 

An Oscar Meyer Wienermobile rolled over after the driver over-compensated and lost control on a Chicago freeway last Monday.

Too bad this didn't happen during G-FEST two weeks prior. It would have been something interesting to see.

No. 1 Cause Of Death In National Parks?

Above, motorhomes driving through Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fatalities in our national parks make news, especially if caused by wildlife, falls and drownings. But, interestingly, the top cause of fatalities among national park visitors is by vehicular accidents.

According to National Parks Traveler:

The greatest risk to your life in a national park is not a grizzly bear, not a rattlesnake, and not having a heart attack. No, the greatest risk to your life is being in a vehicle heading down the road, according to the National Park Service.

Mortality data collected from the National Park System from 2014 through 2019 turned up 2,149 deaths overall, with 370 deaths related to driving. Drowning was responsible for 314 deaths during that time period, while hiking contributed 255 deaths, with falls accounting for 206 deaths, the Park Service says. There also were 381 suicides in the parks during those years, and 25 murders.

The covered years provide the most recently available data, as the Park Service notes it can take some time to validate the reports that come in from across the National Park System. 

To read more, go here. 

Injury Lawyer Larry H. Parker Dies At 75

Above, Larry H. Parker in an early advertisement.

Here's a blast from the past of my days in Los Angeles.

Injury attorney Larry H. Parker of Los Angeles has passed away at age 75.

He was well-known in Los Angeles for his television advertisements and billboards for his personal injury law firm.

According to the L.A. Daily News:

Attorney Larry H. Parker, a decades-long Southern California legal fixture whose television ads and billboards made him almost a household name, has died at age 75, it was reported Friday.

TMZ reported Parker’s death, citing his law partner Ron Beck and Parker’s daughter-in-law. No details about the circumstances or timing of his death were immediately available.

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker has been in operation for nearly 50 years, now boasting more than 125 attorneys, primarily handling accident and personal injury cases. The firm’s television ads, which are almost unavoidable for Southern California viewers, boast that its attorneys are “successful in 95% of our cases.”

I dealt with his law firm on a number of occasions over the years when I was a casualty claims adjuster. In actuality, the law firm was easy to deal with. His phone number in the ads was easy to remember with its "0000".

In New Mexico, the accident law firm with billboards and television ads similar to Parker's that immediately come to mind is Keller & Keller. 

To read more, go here.

Another Snow Day

Above, eastbound Interstate 40 at MM 35 tonight.

" Heavy snow is expected across the Intermountain West and Rockies today." - National Weather Service.

When I got up and went for my first cup of coffee, I looked outside and we were having snow showers. It looks like we have an inch and a half of snow on the ground. Much of yesterday's snow melted. 

Overnight, there was an accident on eastbound Interstate 40 near Mile Marker 35, which is near Iyanbito. I am at Mile Marker 39. I don't know the details of the accident. 

It looks like I'll be spending part of the day indoors. 

According to the National Weather Service:

Overnight

Scattered snow showers, mainly after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday

Scattered snow showers before 3pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 3pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of snow showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night

Snow showers, mainly before 11pm. Low around 21. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

David J. Skal, R.I.P.

Above, David J. Skal.

Nothing like waking up to shocking news.

Horror film historian David J. Skal was killed on New Years Day in an automobile accident in Glendale. He was 71.

It was a head-on collision caused by an alleged drunk driver. ABC 7 News has a surveillance video of the accident.

Although we were Facebook friends, I mainly knew him through his featurettes in Universal Pictures' horror movies DVDs. 

It was this post from Don Glut of a few hours ago that gave me the news:

By now most of you who knew David J. Skal -- a scholar, historian and a friend -- was killed tragically in an auto collision. I directed David once in a cameo scene in a short film THE VAMPIRE HUNTERS CLUB. But I'll always remember a magical moment I had with him. We were in a recording studio up at Universal. At the time he was working on a restoration of FRANKENSTEIN and knew that I had an audio tape made from the original sound discs that included Colin Clive's later-censored line, "In the name of God, now I know what it feels like to be God."  He wanted to restore that line into the film, a place that had been a jump cut since it was removed decades ago by the censors.  The tape, which I had since the late 1960s, had to be played from the beginning;  we couldn't skip ahead to that line. David and I were sitting on a couch. I watched him as the tape played from the beginning ... and the growing look of anticipation on his face as the soundtrack progressed ... and the final look of near-ecstasy as he finally heard, for the first time in his life, those legendary lines. I'll never forget that moment!  Ironically, the accident occurred on January 1st -- the anniversary of the first publication of Mary Shelley's classic novel FRANKENSTEIN. To see and hear the scene as restored by David, click ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqF28KiD-Hc

This is a big loss to the horror movie fan family. 

UPDATE (2/14.24):

David Skal’s partner, Robert Postawko, who was in the car with Mr. Skal when Mr. Skal was killed in a traffic accident, died on Feb. 6 from the injuries he had sustained. He had been expected to survive despite the seriousness of his injuries.

Snow Traffic Problems (As Usual)

Above, winds are adding to visibility problems. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Just as we all expected, the latest winter storm has arrived in New Mexico and, like the last one, is causing plenty of traffic accidents around the state.

Again, at Continental Divide (eight miles east of me on Interstate 40), semi trucks are involved in snow-related accidents. 

At milepost 30 (ten miles west of me near the McGaffey exit) another accident took place involving a semi truck and passenger car). People have got to learn not to drive in such conditions and truckers need to slow down.

As for me, I am just sitting at home and enjoying the view. 

Snowstorm Aftermath

Above, the deck this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The snowstorm has passed, but it left a mess on the highways in New Mexico.

A few miles away from me, two semi trucks have collided in the Coolidge area and blocked Interstate 40. Some reports of black ice in the Iyanbito area have been posted.

For myself, I need to go into Gallup today to pick up cat food and other things. Hopefully, the roads will be drivable within the community so that I can safely drive the Mustang on them and get to Interstate 40. There's no driving issues where the Jeep is concerned. 

After dealing with another issue, I took a look outside and the above photo was what I saw.

Tarantula Causes Traffic Collision In Death Valley

Above, a male tarantula, native to New Mexico, attracts a kitten's attention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that we're in autumn, we are seeing tarantulas out and about. These are males looking for females to mate with. (If successful, their "happy endings" usually involve getting eaten by the female.)

Quite often, we see them crossing roads. I see about two or three of them a week during these mating seasons. I try to avoid running them over, so the following story is understandable. It is also getting a lot of press.

From the People Magazine website:

A tarantula was the culprit in a traffic accident Saturday in California’s Death Valley National Park, resulting in a motorcyclist being hospitalized. 

The National Park Service (NPS) said in a news release that a rented camper van carrying a Swiss couple suddenly stopped to avoid hitting a tarantula while crossing CA-190 east of Towne Pass in the park.

A 24-year-old Canadian man on a motorcycle crashed into the rear of the camper van, per the statement. An NPS ambulance took the injured motorcyclist to Desert View Hospital in Pahrump, per officials.

As a former insurance adjuster, this sounds to me like a incident of comparative negligence at best. It appears that the motorcyclist was following too close to the camper when the camper's driver jammed on the brakes. But then, suppose it was a child they stopped for. Maybe 90/10% negligence on the motorcyclist's part.

To read the full story, go here.

Japan's Tourism Boom Stirs Accident Jitters

Above, climbers with lanterns climb Mt. Fuji at night. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In recent weeks, accidents at U.S. national parks have been making news. Just last week, a woman fell off a mountain at Grand Teton National Park to her death. There have been other accidents as well.

Concerns over similar accidents by climbers of Japan's Mount Fuji has made the news today.

From Nikkei Asia:

TOKYO -- As foreign visitors return to Japan in droves for the first summer since 2019, authorities in the country are bracing for another potential surge -- in the number of accidents at tourism magnet Mount Fuji and on the nation's roads.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the estimated number of foreigners who visited the country in June exceeded 2.07 million, more than 16 times the same period last year when arrivals were heavily restricted by travel curbs designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As for Mount Fuji, according to the Ministry of the Environment around 42,000 climbers visited Japan's iconic peak in the first 16 days of July. That represents a jump of 40% from the comparable number four years ago, the last summer before Japan introduced travel restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Though not typically considered a dangerous climb, Mount Fuji can be problematic for some. In a regular year, more than 1,000 visitors get lost during the summer climbing season. Some visitors attempt what's called a "bullet climb" -- going up and down without reserving spaces to stay overnight in mountain huts -- without bringing enough equipment and without proper planning.

To read more, go here. 

Fatality Yesterday In Prewitt, NM On I-40

Above, yesterday's fatal accident in Prewitt.

The accident yesterday morning in Prewitt, New Mexico that caused the closure of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 at Thoreau resulted in a fatality.

According to a post by Ferguson Law:

Prewitt, NM (February 7, 2023) - A car accident outside of Prewitt on Tuesday morning, February 7, resulted in a fatality. 

The deadly crash was reported on Interstate 40 EB near NM-412. The roads were reportedly slippery due to snow and inclement weather. The site was temporarily closed and traffic was routed to NM-122. 

At least one person involved in the crash was killed. At this time, the number of involved parties has not been made public. No further information on the accident has been provided at this time. 

Local authorities are handling the ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash. 

We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased victim at this time.

Above, another view of yesterday's accident.

I had a feeling that a fatality was involved while we were stuck in the resulting traffic jam. Interstates in New Mexico are generally not closed due to accidents unless the vehicles are blocking all lanes or a fatality is involved. 

We noticed that semi trucks kept speeding along at 70 mph (at least) in snowy/icy conditions. Those jackass drivers never seem to want to slow down to safe speeds. 

17 Vehicles In Accident On I-40 Near Flagstaff

 

Above, yesterday's accident on I-40 near Flagstaff. Ponderosa Fire Department photo.

Apparently, the current snowstorm was heavier near Williams and Flagstaff, Arizona as it led to a 17-vehicle accident on eastbound Interstate 40.

From what I see in the photo above, semi trucks were involved. It is no surprise to me as they don't seem to slow down during inclement weather. More often than not, it seems that a semi truck is usually involved in accidents on Interstate 40.

According to Fox 10 Phoenix:

Three people were taken to a hospital and several minor injuries were reported, the Ponderosa Fire Department said.

The eastbound lanes were shut down east of Williams at milepost 175 near Parks Road. All lanes have since reopened.

To read more, go here.

RV Travel: Top 12 Driver Errors

Just about everyone has been involved in a traffic collision, whether or not it was their fault. Each time one gets behind the wheel increases the odds that they will be involved in an accident. It is just the law of averages at play.

RV Travel has posted a list of the top 12 driver errors that can and do cause accidents on the road.

They begin with:

RVers may spend more time behind the wheel than the average driver. That gives us plenty more opportunities to do something bone-headed and get into an accident. Here’s the Top 12 list of driver errors. Check them out and see if perhaps you need to make any adjustments to keep yourself—and others—safer on the road.

To read more, go here. 

A Little Warmer Today

Above, the front driveway with animal tracks. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was bitter cold out, but at least Whispering Cedars Road was apparently plowed and clear of snow and ice enough for me to go to the post office at the Flying J.

I did do some snow shoveling and the thin layer of ice on the walkways melted to clear them.

The Associated Press reported:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A major storm was leaving New Mexico on Thursday but leaving bitterly cold temperatures and roads slick from ice and packed with snow, prompting closures of schools in several cities and nonessential government services in Albuquerque.

The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque canceled winter storm warnings as conditions improved but urged drivers to be cautious as subfreezing temperatures across most of the state made travel hazardous.

State police said the weather and road conditions appeared to be contributing factors in a deadly pileup along Interstate 40 near Santa Rosa on Wednesday that involved 13 semi trucks and three passenger vehicles. One woman was killed and five other people were taken to a hospital with unknown injuries.

It seems that most accidents on Interstate 40 involves a semi truck. I am not surprised, considering the way I see semi truck drivers speed on the highway.

At least today will be warmer than yesterday. The forecast high today is 34°.

To read more, go here.