Surprising rise in semi-truck rollovers seen on Highway 97 curve in Redmond - KTVZcircle-arrowPlay ButtonStop Buttonchevron-rightchevron-leftchevron-upsearchwarningchevron-left-skinnychevron-right-skinnyxclockcalendarplay-buttoncancel-circleusertwitterfacebookyoutubeinstagramemaillinkedin

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Tow driver advises drivers to exercise caution as winter approaches

(Update: Adding video, comments from Consolidated Towing Inc. heavy duty supervisor, Robert Lee)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- With slick, icy roads and more cars on the road, the heavy duty supervisor for Consolidated Towing Inc. said he expects to be a lot busier towing vehicles.

What Robert Lee did not expect in his nine years of towing, though, is the recent rise in semi-truck rollovers on one stretch of highway in Redmond.

What's surprising, Lee said, is the number of semi-trucks that have rolled over or crashed on a curve on northbound Highway 97 near milepost 119. He said he knows of five semi-trucks that have crashed there just within the last month, and two only days apart.

On Dec. 1, a semi- truck carrying cartons of oranges rolled over. Three days later, another semi with an empty trailer rolled in the exact same spot.

Earlier in the year, Lee said, a steel truck full of metal also rolled on the curve before getting T-boned by a dump truck.

“We used to have about four to five major semi-crashes a year, but this year has been very high," Lee said Wednesday. "We’re averaging maybe about one a month, maybe even more."

Oregon State Police said in a Nov. 30 crash, a produce truck heading north "failed to maintain its lane, crossing into the soft gravel shoulder on a curved portion of the roadway" and tipping onto its right side The driver was not injured.

Although the curved stretch of highway isn't a sharp corner, it's becoming a trouble spot.

“I know a few of them kind of hugged that corner a little wide, and that’s what caused them to flip," Lee said. "But the grade seems okay, the turn is alright. I couldn’t put my finger on why that’s kind of a hot-spot for semis."

Lee added that this could be happening for a number of reasons, such as distracted driving, or speeding.

The nearby offramp could be another reason.

“Maybe cars might be trying to cut off on that offramp, passing the semi, and then maybe trying to get off on that exit and creating more of an issue," Lee suggested.

With consolidated towing averaging about 300 calls a day, Lee said it’s important for all drivers to drive slower in snow conditions, which will help everybody out.

“The mentality is, ‘I've got to take that (exit),' instead of before, where it used to be like, ‘Oh, there it is, I missed it, I'll go get turned around.’”

The latest, 2019 update from the Oregon Department of Transportation reports a total of 12 vehicle crashes along the two-mile stretch between milepost 118 and milepost 120.

Bola Gbadebo

Bola Gbadebo is a multimedia journalist for NewsChannel 21. Learn more about Bola here.

I noticed the last two were a who knows where from that sat there on it’s side for a week or more almost instantly replaced bu a Fred Meyer single. This corner used to get one a year, tops. These are I’d guess numbers 19-20 so far this year. Pay stupid wages, get stupid drivers.

Wages for a lot of truck drivers have gone up, but the problem is that there are so many drivers on the road now with almost no experience, and very little training because the companies are desperate to fill their empty seats. You can’t teach someone how to drive a truck in a few weeks, which is what most of the so called driving schools offer. And to make matters worse, they get little or no experience driving on snow and ice. It’s ridiculous how many so called truck drivers don’t even know how to put tire chains on. Many of them can’t even back the truck into a loading dock.

I’d like to edit my post above. I believe it’s not the lack of pay, but a new mentality of some of these drivers that think the speed limit has increased to 90 mph. I drive this area every morning and it’s not just this curve. What’s most dangerous is seeing a LOT of semi’s blowing through the intersection with 126 at 70 or more a full 3 seconds after the light has turned red. it’s just a matter of time before one causes a fatal there.

Sounds like truck drivers get more training than cops.

Don’t forget to add the bicyclist for the ever needed training. Most don’t think it’s necessary. That’s why so many die.

Well said, Mike. Hope you’re staying safe and healthy this holiday season.

Thank you. I hope you and your family are too.

You write as if you dropped out of school when you were 12

338 writes just like it is. If you think you can get in a tractor with a trailer that’s 53feet long and think your a super trucker good luck

if you follow the thread up, you’ll notice he was responding to eric

i graduated High School at 12. You?

When I’m driving my big rig the only curves I care about are the ones on the lot lizards!

That’s just gross pilmo.

number of immigrant drivers in these accidents please.

That would be racist…

– we are a nation of immigrants, with the exception of the Native People who were here first – what causes guys like you two to have such animosity toward our country and most of the people in it?

Because babies born in the U.S. get sprinkled with some magic semi-truck-driving dust at birth(?).

Im surpised that Barney let this through. Hes always covering for them.

I’m surprised you don’t get lost when putting on a shirt without help.

Were you riding your bicycle with no hands while you text your comment?

It may be considered racist but I do believe it is a valid question if it was worded differently. The number of drivers from Mexico has increased dramatically in recent years, as has the number of Sikh drivers from Canada, primarily British Columbia. The drivers from Mexico have completely different safety standards than we do here. I spent a lot of time driving truck in Canada, and while the drivers from Canada do have strict safety regulations,they fly. It is fairly common for trucks from B.C to have three drivers in them. For the most part the only time they stop is for fuel. Some of them even cut holes in the sleeper floors so they don’t have to stop and use the rest room.

I’ve also spent a lot of time in Canada. I’m sure you noticed how Canada has 1/10th the number of cops on the road, and no need for a normal person to carry a firearm. We are the home of the oppressed, and land of the scared.

Im trying to think of where this curve is. They don’t have mile markers on maps

Going north toward Terrebonne behind Home Depot right before the last overpass bridge.

Thank you. I know where it is now. A few years back one or two girls got killed on that same curve for going to fast.

North end of town by Home Depot. I’ve never understood why they designed those curves with the slope that they have, but if people would drive the speed limit for that section of road, it shouldn’t be a problem, but people don’t drive anywhere close to the posted speed limit.

bingo. typical Oregon sup-par road design and ainage

Bingo. You just nailed it.

It used to be 45mph, which made everyone completely insane. Now it’s 55 which is good, but there should be a max for trucks of 50 through there, right lane only

Perhaps they should slow down.

That’s the correct answer.

I am a truck driver and have gone around that curve many times at the posted speed limit and have noticed it tends to throw truck to the right at times. Don’t know if it is wind or what but definitely gets your attention. As many roll overs as there have been it needs more warning signs to let out of state truckers know to be more cautious. ODOT needs to do something there before someone is killed.

Thanks for weighing in here! Merry Christmas!

I drove through that section of road usually 5 days a week since it was built when I was still driving truck, and you can definitely feel it when you go through those curves, loaded or empty. It would be a good idea if ODOT would put up some signs warning about the curve and slope, but most people probably wouldn’t drive any differently.

I also drive trucks. The beginning of that corner is misleading as it has a sharper approach and then opens up as you move through it. At 100,000 pounds it is not a corner that you want to enter at highway speed.

All drivers not just truck but all drivers need to slow the H down on all streets & Hwy’s & the Cop’s need to get busy & write tickets for speeding, tailgating running Red lights , Horn blowing

Tax money once again well spent. Building the Highway with such a tight turn was just a stupid idea from begin with. Seems like we constantly have people in charge who lie on their resume. Incompetent

I still remember back when I moved here to take care of my retired parents.Eight o’clock at night I could drive from Redmond to Madras and back and see maybe three other cars on the road. During the first two weeks of hunting season you couldn’t find an automotive repair shop open anywhere. Redmond High schools student parking lot was 90% pick-up trucks with rifles in the back window. Sigh….

Life was always better “way back.” Because we were younger. A factor many don’t consider.

Why consider? You didn’t consider old age when you were younger.

If you were smart, you did. Because it puts things in proper context, rather than being sour and thinking everything’s gone to hell. No way to live a life, at any age.

Get real. When you’re young I’d say at least 90% never considered getting old. One doesn’t have to “think” everything’s gone to hell, it is what it is. And what would you propose, we all jump for joy for the way things are? Hind sights 20/20 when were young we’re dumb (learning curve). If things weren’t like they are now, I would have loved to turn back the hand’s of time. But not now. Because now we all know what would be ahead of us. So there would be no point. It’s sad but nothing we can do to change it. I am as we all should be doing our part to fight against the pandemic, as futile as it seems. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Even before my recent health scares, I know how precious life is, how blessed I am, and with all the problems flung about here daily – all the hate and blame — I know we’re all blessed to still be here. As Anne Frank said so memorably amid the horror she faced, I still believe people are basically good. And that the negativity expressed here isn’t what life is all about. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Sorry to read you’ve had some health issues, I hope you are back to ‘normal’. Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Thank you for your concern. Merry Christmas to you as well.

Sorry to hear you have had some health scares Barney. I hope things are improving for you. Health issues have a way of making a person see what is truly important, and it also shows us that some of the things that we thought were important, are trivial at best. I’ve been dealing with health issues for about a year and a half, and they have slowly been getting better, but my wife had an MRI yesterday and we found out that she has some very serious issues that we didn’t know about. It’s amazing how quickly a persons focus changes when you get bad news. Enough negativity. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas, and that 2022 is a better year for you.

Thanks Mike. Just think that all through some time before you hit the “post” button. I’ve written many a post that never got posted, for a variety of reasons. I often regret when I do post (lowers me to their level, encourages them etc.)

Yep, things were a lot different back then and I miss it. Another thing I really miss is after 9 p.m being able to go from the north end of town, all the way to the south end of town on 3rd street without stopping because the few traffic lights that there were all went to flashing yellow. Those truly were the good old days.

Perhaps, but I was referring more to the simple, quiet laid back country life here then. I grew up in Oakland Ca,and the move here was a refreshing change. Now that overcrowded rush rush overpriced city crapola has taken over here in many ways.

Oh, and Merry Christmas everyone.

Eric in Redmond…so it’s okay that you moved here, but now you’d rather have the doors closed?

Interesting.

You’re putting words in my mouth. Go.Away.

Yesterday ~ waiting at the intersection of veterans Way and 97… Semi runs a red light, driving faster than the speed limit without a doubt. Had I not paused he/ she would have T-boned my car. And not the first time I’ve seen a semi hauling on 97.

Truck drivers/ all drivers need to slow the eff down. Stop running red lights.

It’s the hap, happiest time of the year🎅.

It would benefit all drivers if they would slow down. There is too much traffic that drivers need to pay attention to. Be patient, you will get there!

It’s not surprising at all. The trucking industry shot their selves in the foot when they agreed to the weird hour’s of service, satellites, and speed governors on trucks. Any experienced driver left because it was only getting worse. If you can’t be happy a work then it’s time to find another job.

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