Trailer becomes unhitched, causes accident; Maud motorist, passenger die

JASON SMITH STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The driver of this pickup was killed Monday afternoon when his vehicle struck a loose trailer on SH 9 near South Rock Creek Road. A passenger in the pickup was airlifted from the scene to an Oklahoma City hospital and died hours later.

By Kim Morava

Staff Writer

Posted Jun 30, 2008 @ 11:07 PM

Last update Jun 30, 2008 @ 11:09 PM

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TECUMSEH, Okla. —

An 83-year-old Maud man was killed Monday afternoon on SH 9 when his truck hit a loose trailer that became unhitched from another pickup. His passenger, also 83, died hours later at an Oklahoma City hospital.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the accident occurred about 2:14 p.m. on SH 9, about 100 yards east of South Rock Creek Road.
Raymond Taylor, 83, died at the scene. His passenger, Grady D. Strawn, 83, died late Monday night at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, the OHP said.
The accident occurred as Darrell W. Mackey, 62, Konawa, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet pickup and pulling a 15-foot trailer, the OHP said.
Mackey was eastbound while two other vehicles — a 1988 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by Taylor and a 1995 Dodge Intrepid driven by Amy M. Schott, 30, Weleetka, weremy M. Schott, 30, Weleetka, were westbound on SH 9.

The OHP said the trailer on Mackey’s pickup detached and entered the westbound lane. The trailer was struck by Taylor’s Dodge pickup. Schott attempted to avoid hitting the Dodge pickup and ended up hitting the trailer, the report shows.
Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene from massive head, internal and external injuries, the OHP said. He was pinned in the wreckage for about one hour before being freed by Tecumseh firefighters.
A Medi Flight helicopter ambulance landed on the highway and transported Strawn to Oklahoma City, where he was admitted at OU Medical Center in critical condition with head, arm, leg, internal trunk and external injuries, the OHP said. Strawn died about 9 p.m. Monday night.
The other two drivers were not injured, the report shows. The patrol said Taylor and Strawn were not wearing seat belts.
Trooper Kevin Logan investigated the accident with assistance from other troopers and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. Tribal police also worked traffic control and REACT EMS paramedics worked triage at the scene

Man dead after Bradenton crash Loose Trailer

Man dead after Bradenton crashLast Edited: Monday, 30 Jun 2008, 5:25 AM EDTCreated: Monday, 30 Jun 2008, 5:25 AM EDT

BRADENTON - A single-truck crash on Interstate 75 in Manatee County turned out to be fatal.Deputies say the driver lost control on the highway and died after being thrown from his car. Witnesses say his trailer became loose and caused the truck to roll over.His wife was also in the truck and was injured.Investigators have not released their names or the condition of the woman

Trailer Comes Loose from Truck, Causes Accident

Trailer Comes Loose from Truck, Causes AccidentPosted:July 3, 2008 01:07 PM EDT
Four people were injured Wednesday afternoon in a two vehicle accident south of Early, Iowa. The Sac county sheriff says a trailer being pulled by a pick up truck came loose and fishtailed across Highway 71, striking an oncoming car.

The driver of the car, 36-year-old June Milligan, and a passenger, 13-year-old Kadysha Lent, both of Laurens, Iowa had be to extricated from the car with the jaws of life. Both were transported to Mercy Medical Center where they are listed in fair condition.Two other passengers, 36-year-old Theresa Stevens and 9-year-old Alexis Milligan were treated and released with minor injuries. The truck driver, 44-year-old Bill Riesselman of Halbur, Iowa was not injured.

The sheriff says the wrong sized ball hitch was used for the trailer, causing it to lift off the truck. The investigation is continuing.

4 Children Injured In ATV Crash Loose Trailer

Children Injured In ATV CrashPosted:July 2, 2008 07:10 PM EDT
WATERTOWN, Tenn. - Four children are recovering from an ATV-related crash in Watertown.The children were injured Tuesday when a couple pulled them in a trailer attached to an all-terrain vehicle.The trailer came loose and flipped.Investigators said the couple was traveling about 25 miles an hour.Neighbors called for emergency responders.

"We was inside having lunch when the four wheeler came up with the six people," said Clark Beadle, a neighbor who lives near the crash site. "They was injured, hurt, hysterical and we called for help.

The children were 1-9 years old. Investigators said the youngest child suffered a serious skull injury. He was transported by medical helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.The other three children sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

They are recovering at home.ATV dealers said the couple broke several rules. They said these vehicles should not be used on pavement.

They also say that they should not be used to pull trailers with children in them.The accident draws attention to the dangers of ATVs especially for children. In 2006, 555 people died in ATV accidents, according to the latest government studies. Twenty percent of those fatalities included children.

From 2003-2006, 120 people died in Tennessee in ATV-related incidents. That's the sixth most in the nation."We recommend everyone wear helmets when riding an ATV," said Ron Yearwood of Precision Motorsports.

Yearwood said he doesn't sell an ATV without talking about safety first.While ATV's can be fun and useful, Yearwood said carrying kids behind a four wheeler on a trailer doesn't qualify as either.

"These things are designed to hold trailers, but obviously you shouldn't be hauling children in a trailer behind it," he said. "Just like you shouldn't have kids in the back of a pickup truck.""Don't like to see kids on a trailer behind a four-wheeler. Common sense tells you that's not something that needs to be," Beadle said

A trailer being pulled by the SUV became uncoupled

Police blotter June 30, 2008ACCIDENT:

A sport utility vehicle driven by Mary Elizabeth Arnold, 36, of 406 S. Lancaster St., Jonestown, was traveling north on Route 72 when Arnold lost control while descending a hill at Swatara Creek at 6:30 p.m. Friday, state police at Jonestown said. A trailer being pulled by the SUV became uncoupled, forcing the SUV into a guardrail. No injuries were reported, but the vehicle was towed

Updated Two killed in Ohatchee accident

Two killed in Ohatchee accidentBy Lisa Rogers,

Times Staff WriterPublished June 28, 2008OHATCHEE —

Divers from the Etowah County Sheriff’s Department searched the waters of Boiling Creek south of Ohatchee to make sure there were no more victims following a Friday morning wreck that claimed two lives.

John Mauk, 59, and his 19-year-old daughter, Samantha Mauk, both of Bridgeport in Jackson County, died in the wreck that happened just before 11 a.m. on Alabama Highway 77,Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown said.Details about what caused the wreck still are being investigated, but a pickup pulling a utility trailer was headed north on Alabama Highway 77 and an 18-wheeler was headed south, Brown said.

Investigators still are trying to determine if the trailer malfunctioned and swerved into the oncoming lane or if the 18-wheeler crossed over, Brown said. However, the driver of the 18-wheeler driver lost control and crossed the northbound lane on the bridge, went through the guard rail and in the water.The driver of the pickup and another passerby dove into the water and pulled the man and woman out of the truck.

Brown said he wanted to make sure no other victims were in the truck and called for assistance from the sheriff’s department dive team.“We appreciate Sheriff (Todd) Entrekin and the dive team helping us out,” Brown said.The divers were able to check the truck’s cab and the area around the truck and found nothing.The truck’s diesel fuel spilled into the water, but it was contained in that area, Brown said.The Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency worked to contain the diesel spill, and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Protection Agency were called.

Mauk apparently was on his way to pick up a load in Sylacauga, and the box trailer was empty. Mauk apparently worked for Storey Trucking in Henagar.Cranes already were set up early Friday afternoon to raise the truck and trailer from the water. Alabama Department of Transportation crews also were working to make repairs to the guard rail. It is unclear how long Alabama 77 will remain closed.Brown said autopsies are being done as a routine part of the investigation.

Runaway trailer damages Lafayette Comcast office

Runaway trailer damages Lafayette Comcast office

Updated:June 28, 2008 02:04 AM EDT

Lafayette, Ind. (WLFI) - A trailer ran into the Comcast cable TV office at 325 S. Creasy Lane in Lafayette Friday night, but no one was injured.Lafayette police say a truck driver reported he hit a bump at about 9:30, as his truck was southbound on Creasy Lane. The trailer became detached from the tractor, crossed Creasy, and ran into the Comcast building's southwest doors.