Hell of a ride down Cheat Mountain on I-68 in WV

[Malaki86]

Just saw this on the local news:
I-68 Tractor-Trailer Accident Lands on Fairchance Rd. - WBOY-TV - WBOY.com

I-68 Tractor-Trailer Accident Lands on Fairchance Rd.
Posted Friday, September 9, 2011 ; 11:11 AM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Friday, September 9, 2011; 06:36 PM

The driver escaped with non-life threatening injuries.
CHEAT LAKE -- A truck driver is being treated at a hospital after his tractor-trailer traveled between two lanes of the Cheat Lake bridge of Interstate 68 near exit 10 around 9:15 a.m. Friday. The driver said he had an air pressure problem with the vehicle's braking system. The driver lost control of the truck as it entered the media, then traveled down an embankment onto Rt. 857, Fairchance Rd.
The driver was able to escape the wreckage with non-life threatening injuries.
Officials said the tractor trailer was carrying bottled water.
Crews closed Fairchance Road while working to clean-up the wreck.
The Monongalia County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene.

That's a hell of a hill to lose your brakes on. I guess he didn't know he didn't have brakes until he was past the truck escape ramp.

[Orangetxguy]

Just saw this on the local news:
I-68 Tractor-Trailer Accident Lands on Fairchance Rd. - WBOY-TV - WBOY.com



That's a hell of a hill to lose your brakes on. I guess he didn't know he didn't have brakes until he was past the truck escape ramp.

Do ya suppose he knows what that pull out is for now? The one right at the top of the hill that requires all trucks to stop?? I bet when they look at the dvr from the cameras...he didn't even slow down driving through!! Let alone get out of the truck.

New shorts required!

[Double R]

Do ya suppose he knows what that pull out is for now? The one right at the top of the hill that requires all trucks to stop?? I bet when they look at the dvr from the cameras...he didn't even slow down driving through!! Let alone get out of the truck.

New shorts required!

There is a stop sign when you exit the rest area, unless he blow through that also. I would say speed played some part in this. To many times I have had trucks blow past me coming down that hill, which is marked 50mph.

[One]

yea, lets just go ahead and condemn the driver.

[Mr. Ford95]

He said he had an issue with the air, sounds like he lost air pressure but that wouldn't explain he running down an embankment. If he was losing air then the brakes should have came full on and locked him down. Sounds to me like the driver is telling a fib.

[Malaki86]

Load of bottled water on a steep mountain with a sharp turn at the bottom. He probably thought that he didn't have to pay attention to the 50mph signs the entire way down the hill, then when he realized he was going too fast, he cooked his brakes. Once they're fried, they're worthless, even if he had lost all air pressure and the e-brakes kicked in.

Not the first time I've seen it happen on that mountain and I'm sure it won't be the last.

[repete]

yea, lets just go ahead and condemn the driver.

who else would be at fault?

[Double R]

Load of bottled water on a steep mountain with a sharp turn at the bottom. He probably thought that he didn't have to pay attention to the 50mph signs the entire way down the hill, then when he realized he was going too fast, he cooked his brakes. Once they're fried, they're worthless, even if he had lost all air pressure and the e-brakes kicked in.

Not the first time I've seen it happen on that mountain and I'm sure it won't be the last.

We have a winner. I'm sure you see it more then I do since you run the road more, but several times this summer I have already seen speed demons smoking them on that hill.

[Malaki86]

The other place drivers smoke their brakes is between the Finzel scale and the bottom of the mountain in Cumberland. Run slow coming from Finzel to Friendsvills, then ignore the constant drop going to the town just before Cumberland. Then find out in Cumberland that you have smoke rolling heavy off your trailer. Let a cop see that and they WILL pull you over.

If I have over 15k in the box on I-68, I follow the speed limits to the 'T' every time. That comes from crossing that highway for years, many times doing that stretch every day. If you're not experienced on I-68, do what the signs say. If the weather is bad (fog or snow), slow the hell down. That road is a nightmare to travel in the best of conditions. I couldn't tell you how often I've came through Grantsville and could barely see past the end of my hood while some idiot flew past me doing 70mph+ down the mountains.