Re: Trailer accidents

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

Wow!!! What and experience!!!!  For those of you who don;t already know: when
crossing bridges that are icy, you will be JUST FINE if you slow down ahead of
time and NEVER use brakes and stay OFF the gas.  The tires on your vehicle will
NOT slide if the above is followed.  The majority of car/truck/trailer accidents
on ice involve people who "automatically" use brakes or use too much "gas".

Teddy

Bluebirdpr@aol.com wrote:

> When I lived in Cleveland, Ohio I was driving home from work in a white out
> snow storm and just in front of me a pickup towing a two horse tagalong lost
> control on an ice covered bridge.  The trailer flipped and slid about 50 yards
> before resting up against a guard rail (this was on an Interstate).  I
> immediately turned my car sideways with the flashers on to stop traffic from
> behind.  Luckily there were two tractor trailers behind me and they were
> slowing down for the icy bridge.  I ran up to the horse trailer and the man
> and wife were in shock.  I looked in and saw one horse upside down but was not
> moving.  Me and one for the truck drivers ripped off what was left of the rear
> door.  I finally got the attention of the husband and told him to go into the
> trailer and unhook the tie down and to talk to the horse and to sit on the
> horse's neck if the horse regained conscious.  No sooner had he unhooked the
> horse, he woke up and started thrashing.  Knowing we had to get the horse out
> ASAP I grabbed a leg and the two truck drivers grabbed the tail and we agreed
> to pull as hard as we could on three.  We pulled and the horse slid out like
> he was on butter and as soon as his head cleared the trailer he popped up like
> a cork.  He looked around, snorted and stood perfectly still. We found a
> blanket and walked him down to the next exit (not far) and waited for another
> trailer.  The clincher is that this horse was a standard bred race trotter and
> raced four days later and other than minor cuts and bruises never had any
> problems.  I guess someone was watching over this guy.  I feel fortunate that
> I had horse experience and didn't panic.  Also having two big truck drivers
> beside you helps, although neither would grab this horse's legs.  They said
> they were very comfortable pulling his tail.
>
> Phil