Kudos came in for Carolyn Magner’s in-depth feature on the “Suicide by truck” phenomenon — individuals at the end of the rope stepping or driving into the path of oncoming semis — and the tragedies such incidents are for truckers. “I’ve read over the years of how common the suicide element of fatal accidents for railroad engineers is and more recently the whole suicide by police issue,” wrote Paul Bingham. “In reading those stories I’ve thought that there must be some share of truck-involved fatal accidents that were really suicides too. You’ve found the evidence and found the personal link to affected drivers to bring this into the light and show that this is affecting truckers too. Compelling coverage of poorly-known issues affecting trucking is what I’ve come to expect from you and Overdrive over the years. Keep up the good work!”
More importantly, a number of readers commenting here at OverdriveOnline.com and on Overdrive‘s Facebook page, among other places, offered anecdotes that further drive home the full extent of the problem — and the potential aftermath.
Glenn Helmly: I was a safety manager for a mid-sized, family-owned trucking company and this happened to one of our drivers in North Carolina. It was devastating for the seasoned driver, who over his career had at one time owned several trucks. Our driver, having a strong faith in God, was able to overcome the incident and returned to driving again… There was very little as a company we could offer him, other than support. We even maintained his pay until he was able to return to full duty, but I personally don’t feel that was enough! Workers compensation did zero, other than to notify us and him that emotional distress is not covered for a non-physical injury, which was added insult to injury! The North Carolina Highway Patrol handled the case very well, and other than the required inspection and drug/alcohol testing, they where very professional and supportive of our driver.David Wilmoth: The tire marks are faded away near the Flying J on I-20 East in Columbia, S.C. The civilian waited until I got close and pulled out in front of me and stayed across all three lanes. I had to lock it down, and came within two feet of hitting him. My wife called me a week later — she told me [the driver] pulled in front of a loaded dump truck and got what he wanted.
Douglas M. Fabish: I was a kid … hauling hazmat out of the San Diego tank farm. Pop was an old hand. We ran jet fuel to the Yuma (Ariz.) Marine base on weekends. Pop left out about an hour in front of me. There was a big smudge of smoke on the horizon in front of me. Pop was dead. The car driver admitted he was trying to commit suicide.Norman Ott: Happened to a friend of mine in Vegas a few years back. A man was handcuffed on the side of the interstate after a drug bust. He jumped up and ran in front of his T660 and was killed. He installed a bullbar after that. Over $8,000 in repairs plus the cost of the bullbar.
Thomas Lawson: Happened to me late one night on I-80 in Illinois, just before Morris where the truck stop is. Fool kid was on the side of the road with his friends, and he just stood there like a deer. I had about four trucks behind me, and I don’t know how I missed the kid. I stood on the brakes and held the wheel straight and stopped inches from him. Troopers said it was a wonder I didn’t kill him.
Have your own story? Feel free to use the comments section here to share — we’ll update the main piece later in the week as more testimonies come in. As is mentioned in Magner’s feature, such incidents are very hard for some to process — if you need help in locating counseling services in your home area, call the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration help line: 877-726-4727. Another resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255.
from Overdrive http://ift.tt/1Wfpq9T
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