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aceflys · 01-31-2015, 02:24 PM

A Streamer is having a very bad day. WBCCI # 2354 is reported to be owned by Bob & Sue Martin of Sun City West AZ. I sure hope they are OK. This was spotted on I-10 in AZ.

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PaulnGina · 01-31-2015, 02:26 PM

Oh, my! Let's hope they are OK!

BoldAdventure · 01-31-2015, 03:19 PM

Looks like something very big plowed into them. Ouch.

TBRich · 01-31-2015, 03:34 PM

Bob & Sue are members of the 4CU...they live in the Spokane, WA area but winter in AZ. As far as I know, they are not members of the Airforums. I just spoke with Sue on the phone...they are fine...banged & shaken up but did not have to go to the hospital ... thank goodness.

They were on I-10 on their way to Quartzsite on 20 Jan as part of a camping club caravan and were rear-ended by a brand new diesel tractor (cab only, no trailer attached) when the truck driver fell asleep at the wheel. Their trailer is totaled of course, as was the tractor cab. The trucker ended up in the hospital with his injuries. Their tow vehicle sustained some damage, as the trailer was pushed into it, but it was still drivable.

They are now in search of another rig...theirs was a '99 23' Safari and they are looking for another vintage rig of similar size, perhaps newer, and with twins. If anyone knows of a rig that may meet their needs, please PM me and I will put you in touch with them.

They are upbeat folks and Sue seemed in good spirits when we spoke, but as you might guess, they are in the usual throes of dealing with insurance, etc. Sue says they feel like the Airstream literally save their lives by cushioning the force of the tractor cab hitting them.

PaulnGina · 01-31-2015, 03:40 PM

Sounds as good as could be hoped for. Good to hear! Glad they were not hurt or worse.

Lily&Me · 01-31-2015, 03:54 PM

Yikes!

Glad to hear they are okay.

Maggie

webspinner · 01-31-2015, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBRich

Sue says they feel like the Airstream literally save their lives by cushioning the force of the tractor cab hitting them.

It might also have saved the truck driver's life as well, giving him a softer landing than many he might have had from falling asleep at the wheel. I hope he recovers to spread his story as a warning to others.

TBRich · 01-31-2015, 04:23 PM

You're probably right, webspinner ... they were all very lucky, considering.

Phoenix · 01-31-2015, 04:27 PM

Good grief! -- Please convey our best wishes for them getting back on the road soon!

macofpei · 02-01-2015, 10:40 AM

Glad to hear that they are OK. Any accident you can walk away from is a blessing. The truckers insurance should cover any costs. I wouldn't trust the TVs hitch, again, tho. After getting a hit like that, welds and bolts are probable shot.

**moosetags** · 02-01-2015, 11:02 AM

Glad to hear that it all came out as well as it could under the circumstances. That is the kind of thing that really scares me as it could easily happen to any if us.

Brian

Sodbust · 02-01-2015, 11:24 AM

Semis without a trailer cant stop worth a darn... How do I know,, trust me.!!!. Back in my early days of driving larger trucks,, front brakes were an option. Like hitting the coaster brakes on a old single speed bike dragging the rear tire.. After my first scare,, I allowed an extra 100 feet even at 30 mph..

Sodbust

tjdonahoe · 02-01-2015, 11:53 AM

They were very lucky, the truck will have plenty of insurance, the trucks all have front brakes,it is federal law every axle will have brakes, but you have to be awake in order to make use of them, they walked away and wil run again, very thankful

Paul & Holly · 02-01-2015, 01:36 PM

Sodbuster and THDonohue are both correct. All trucks must now have front brakes, but that was not always true. I too owned and operated over the road tractors with no front brakes. Even with front brakes a tractor with no trailer is dangerous as there is virtually no weight on the rear axles and therefore no stopping power. They do not stop well and like to switch ends.

boondockdad · 02-01-2015, 02:22 PM

yikes! bad memories...

glad they're OK

Foiled Again · 02-01-2015, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBRich

Bob & Sue are members of the 4CU...they live in the Spokane, WA area but winter in AZ. As far as I know, they are not members of the Airforums. I just spoke with Sue on the phone...they are fine...banged & shaken up but did not have to go to the hospital ... thank goodness.

They were on I-10 on their way to Quartzsite on 20 Jan as part of a camping club caravan and were rear-ended by a brand new diesel tractor (cab only, no trailer attached) when the truck driver fell asleep at the wheel. Their trailer is totaled of course, as was the tractor cab. The trucker ended up in the hospital with his injuries. Their tow vehicle sustained some damage, as the trailer was pushed into it, but it was still drivable.

They are now in search of another rig...theirs was a '99 23' Safari and they are looking for another vintage rig of similar size, perhaps newer, and with twins. If anyone knows of a rig that may meet their needs, please PM me and I will put you in touch with them.

They are upbeat folks and Sue seemed in good spirits when we spoke, but as you might guess, they are in the usual throes of dealing with insurance, etc. Sue says they feel like the Airstream literally save their lives by cushioning the force of the tractor cab hitting them.

Dear TB, I really empathize, and I am SO happy your friends Bob and Sue are OK, please forward my best wishes to them, and if they are interested I'll send you my private contact information. I'm sure they've got many good friends to support them but you may remember that I wrecked back in June of 2013, so I probably went through a lot of the emotional roller coaster that Bob & Sue will be facing. I walked away from mine and thought I was fine - and physically I was but when I got the new Eddie Bauer and got ready to tow it home I was in "flop sweat" mode for the whole trip. Really didn't relax for 3 or 4 months and occasionally still have a bad nightmare.

Driving the EB home from the dealership WAS traumatic. If I had the sense God gave a duck I would have been better off taking 3 days for a 300 mile trip.

Paula

Skater · 02-01-2015, 07:22 PM

The brakes on trucks is sort of a moot point when the operator isn't awake to use them...

Sorry to hear the story; glad everyone is okay.

Panama Red · 02-01-2015, 07:39 PM

Man! Glad everyone came out ok. Hope they're up and running soon. Not a member of the forums? Inconceivable...

-Red, princess bride mode...

xrvr · 02-02-2015, 05:46 AM

Only a small percentage of AS owners are members of the forums, most never heard of it. Their loss. Peace, jim

paiceman · 02-02-2015, 06:06 AM

Glad to hear they are OK, I would suggest, however, if anyone is unfortunate to be involved in an accident to go to a Med Clinic or Hospital asap. Sometimes in a crash like this from behind there are back and neck issues that if spotted on an x-ray right after can be mitigated, I know, did not go and now 10 years later suffer from a minor rear end we had.