Accidente Fatal de Camión en la Carretera 97 Causado por Camino Helado

Date: December 10, 2010
Ubicación: Highway 97 South of Biggs Junction
Nombres: Martin Damon Hundley, Andrew T. Collingwood

According to Oregon State Police news releases, at about 5:30am on the morning of December 10, 2010 a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by Martin Damon Hundley, age 50 from The Dalles, was headed south on Highway 97 near milepost 6 when it went out of control on the icy roadway. The pickup crossed into the northbound lane and collided with a 2007 Freightliner pulling a semi-trailer loaded with lumber products. Following the impact, the pickup came to rest on the west side highway shoulder.

The commercial truck driver Andrew T. Collingwood, age 43 of Homewood, Illinois was able to exit the truck before both the truck and trailer burned.

Unfortunately, Mr. Hundley was pronounced deceased at the scene. Both drivers were using safety restraints.

We send our sincere condolences to Mr. Hundley’s family, and hope that Mr. Collingwood did not suffer any injuries in this tragic Oregon truck crash.

With the return of colder temperatures to the area drivers need to be aware of icy and snowy road conditions. Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation ask everyone to slow down and increase following distances so you can safely stop, stay alert and drive carefully. Potentially dangerous driving conditions are factoring into more traffic crashes and other roadside emergencies. Be watchful for emergency workers and their vehicles — police car, ambulance, tow vehicle, or public safety vehicle — on the roadside with emergency lights flashing.

Other tips that they want everyone to remember:

• Planifica con antelación para darte tiempo de sobra para llegar a tu destino.
• Manténgase informado sobre las condiciones meteorológicas, los peligros potenciales de tráfico y los cierres de carreteras.
• Consulta las condiciones de las carreteras visitando www.TripCheck.com o llamando al 5-1-1.
• Asegúrate de que tu vehículo esté listo para la conducción invernal empezando con buenos neumáticos, una buena batería y el tanque de gasolina lleno.
• Lleva un kit de emergencia y cadenas o neumáticos con tracción, especialmente si viajas por pasos de montaña.
• Conduzca según las condiciones. Si está mojado, helado, nevando o hay niebla, reduzca la velocidad y aumente la distancia de seguimiento con respecto a otros vehículos a por lo menos cuatro segundos. Tenga en cuenta que las condiciones pueden no ser perfectas para conducir a la velocidad indicada.
• Mantente atento a posibles condiciones de hielo durante el clima frío en puentes, curvas y áreas sombreadas.
• Usa las luces delanteras incluso de día para que otros conductores te vean.
• No uses el control de crucero en condiciones de humedad, hielo, nieve o niebla.
• Call a Portland abogado de accidente de camión if you do find yourself in an accident.