I Ran Over A Ladder ...

[Jah.]

Had A Toyota p-up back in mid 80s on freeway and semitruck brake shoe bounced from underneath another vehicle in front of me . Bounced under my truck knocking around ( loud noise ) . pulled over and no fluids leaking . at home later on and chunk of metal gone from 5 speed tranny . did not hit in important area . no other damage . don't know how many vehicles hit that brake shoe . Good luck and make guilty party pay if possible .

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[colinl]

I realize that his case was different i can read! that's why I said in my original reply "It's not going to help him now or in every case or incident"
but in my experience in the past there has been many times my GPS has warned of an obstacle while driving on the interstate, and it wasn't instantaneously where I came upon it, It was a ways ahead, so i had time to react.

I do realize in his case it was a different scenario regarding the ladder, I read what he wrote, but if the GPS warning can save one person from running over a huge obstacle on the road ahead in a different situation, it's worth suggesting it.
I didn't want to start in on a who's right and who's wrong contest on the reliability of the GPS, It was just my experience on several occasions with obstacles in the road and how it warned me in a decent amount of time to avoid it, I just thought i would share, didn't expect to be told how useless it is to put my GPS on when driving on the interstate, or the scientifics of it all? but thanks for your input??

uh, yeah. you kind of overreacted there. you commented on how it helps, and my experiences are different. I didn't call your momma ugly, or anything.

 

[rzz]

whatever get over it..

 

[raymaines]

That's not applicable to the OP at all. The ladder fell off the truck just ahead of him, he was close enough to see the truck it came from and follow it to get the plate. If there was a major accident because of the ladder, it would take several minutes at least (maybe 10+) for Google Maps to realize what's happening and show that traffic and accident warning to drivers using Maps.

I find the realtime updates in Google Maps to be nearly useless. I have a radar detector and about 90% of the time 'there's a speed trap ahead' is wrong. There probably was at some point but there isn't when I get there.

Every now and then 'there's a disabled vehicle ahead' is correct and potentially useful, but I can still see the vehicle with my eyes and any traffic slowdown that might be caused by it (which is typically nothing).

Realtime traffic can be useful but traffic isn't a common thing in my metro area, and when it is, it affects one of the only major highways so the update isn't any more useful than just exiting the highway as soon as you see the gridlock ahead. Don't need a realtime update for that, either.

TY

 

[Bigred]

On the bright side, running over a ladder is better that hitting a sofa, refrigerator, or recliner. And yes, I’ve seen those on the xway over the years.

 

[raymaines]

Upon further review...

I was under the truck today and it looks like no real damage was done. Apparently, the ladder hit the little plastic spoiler/front mud flap thingie and that pulled the fiber fender liner loose before rolling under the truck without doing any further damage. There are a few other plastic parts that are/were interconnected and will probably need to be replaced but no signs of any structural or component damage.

At this point, I have no idea what the legal or financial ramifications might come to, but the truck and I are both as safe as could be expected under the circumstances. Thanks for all the support and responses.

 

[Montana]

So glad I don't live in congested areas for reasons like this.

Also, DASHCAM!

You wouldn't have to risk chasing anyone if you had a dashcam and you'd have evidence to present to your insurance. Plus, pursuits are often more dangerous, especially if your vehicle is damaged.

The only possible thing police will do is issue a BOLO and a future ticket, IF they have any actual evidence - which they likely don't other than your word. They probably just picked up the ladder and that was it. Did the vehicle that lost it stop to retrieve it? Or was he AWOL by the time police got involved? Any evidence from the other driver? Sorry, just asking for details because there is no mention of them in the story.

Dashcam. DASHCAM. DASHCAM!

 

[dadd75]

What are those yellow rental box trucks called? Ryder? Or Penske? I forget.

Anyhow.... once on I-29 doing about 65 mph the truck in front drops his drive shaft. His drive shaft!!!

Like dropping a torpedo from a dive bomber I tell ya.

Lucky for me the drive shaft was parallel to the road, had some gyroscopic stability at first, and remained parallel as I straddled it, passed over it, unharmed.

In my rearview it then rolled across all lanes. I'll never forget that day.

Back in the late 1970's I was driving over an elevated bridge doing 60mph and when descending the other side, I noticed my front driver side tire out-racing me, then my car's drivers side front end and front brake drum bounced off the road! I managed to get the car off to the side of the road, walked to the nearest house and called my big brother to come and give me a tow, after we managed to get the front tire back on. I needed to replace the front drum and drove it a few more years. Earlier that day, I rotated the tires and apparently didn't tighten the lug nuts too well

 

[raymaines]

Oh, and one other quick story if you'll allow me...

A big chunk of rubber came off of a Semi truck, went a zillion feet into the air, and came down and hit my motorcycle riding kid on the very back of his helmet. No harm was done, but scary.

OK, two quick stories...

An older VW Bug that had broken down on the side of the freeway and had been repaired pulled into traffic. The front "trunk" lid wasn't properly fastened down, got caught by the wind, blew up, blew off, flopped through the air, was headed straight for my windshield, and at the last possible second took a dive, landed on the freeway surface, and I drove over it with no damage done. I honest to God thought I was dead.

 

[raymaines]

Did the vehicle that lost it stop to retrieve it?

Oh Hell NO!! He was just so out of here.

 

[Montana]

Oh Hell NO!! He was just so out of here.

Yea sorry man, unless the other driver has some evidence of his vehicle dropping the ladder, it will likely just get chalked up as a loss by police. They might issue a BOLO and question further if the tag returns any priors or something they can fish on, but likely not worth their effort if not.

You'd think with the cost of ladders he would want that back. Did it even seem like they noticed they had lost it?

 

[Red Ryder]

There was a deputy killed last year on I-75 retrieving a ladder that flew out of a truck. He got hit by a semi. They passed a law regarding securing your load in trucks and trailers.


'Sergeant Chris Jenkins Law' signed by Gov. Bill Lee

Specifically, the law makes it a Class C Misdemeanor to transport an item weighing more than 2.2 pounds (one kilogram) in an open bed vehicle or trailer without it being secured by a web-derived strap or a ladder without two lateral straps at both ends of the ladder.

 

[raymaines]

Did it even seem like they noticed they had lost it?

Oh yeah! He took the next exit and was gone like a cool summer breeze.

 

[raymaines]

Just to wrap this story up...

The local repair shop (that I love and trust) inspected the underside of my truck and said there was no other damage and was safe to drive.

They said they could do the repair and gave me an estimate. I asked them to order the parts and call to set up an appointment. Two days later the parts arrived, they did the repair the next day, and all for less than my insurance deductible. My Mav is as good as new and I'm a happy guy.

 

[Montana]

Just to wrap this story up...

The local repair shop (that I love and trust) inspected the underside of my truck and said there was no other damage and was safe to drive.

They said they could do the repair and gave me an estimate. I asked them to order the parts and call to set up an appointment. Two days later the parts arrived, they did the repair the next day, and all for less than my insurance deductible. My Mav is as good as new and I'm a happy guy.

And the culprit is in prison lol jk

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