Saturday, November 21, 2009
An accident that killed three Jamesport, Mo., residents recently has raised questions about vehicle safety.
A 1969 Chevrolet grain truck caused the accident when it lost its left rear tandem as it slowed to turn onto a Missouri rural road.
"That truck was old, and I just wonder if this kind of thing could have been prevented," said Bryan Carmenati.
Chester Gingerich, 48; Perry Gingerich, 16; and Maria Hostetler, 40, were killed in the accident. Mr. Carmenati was a friend to the victims.
Most of Missouri's farm vehicles fall under the commercial vehicle category, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles.
"As far as safety, they are required to have an annual inspection when they renew their license," said Martha McCartney, chief commercial vehicle officer with Troop H of the patrol.
The gray area comes with enforcement of federal and state laws.
"We don't enforce federal regulations until (the vehicle) is over 42,000 pounds," Ms. McCartney said. "We can only enforce state laws on them. State (laws) aren't as strict."
But there are a few vehicles that carry an exemption. Farm trucks are among them.
"If we stop them on the road, we would conduct a safety inspection," she said.
When it comes to such things as log books or transporting grain across state lines, which is considered interstate commerce, another debate is at hand.
"We do make the case that farm trucks, which are not used year round and don't travel hundreds of miles, should not be brought to the same standards," said Estil Fretwell, director of public affairs with the Missouri Farm Bureau.
He does agree, however, that farm vehicles should be treated the same as other commercial freights when it comes to safety.
Most farm trucks are licensed for 54,000 pounds, according to Mr. Fretwell and Ms. McCartney.
"I've just been around these trucks a lot, and I can't imagine how this wasn't seen and fixed," Mr. Carmenati said of the 1969 grain truck.
The patrol said the accident is still under investigation. No summons has been issued.
Jennifer Hall can be reached
at jennhall@npgco.com.
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OldGrumpy says...
Several years ago I worked with a fellow that engaged in farming, and he was very defensive when it came to making sure farm/grain trucks were up to parr. He felt it wasn't necessary at all, to assure trucks were in good mechanical condition, for as he put it, "We only use then a few weeks a year, thus no reason to make sure everything works on them"... Now THIS attitude scared me, hard telling how many others feel the same, and are therefore driving trucks on the roadways that are in dire need of maintenance and repair.
November 21, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rette says...
About 5 years ago I was feeding cattle in a field next to I-29. I heard a semi-truck coming, making a lot of noise.I looked up just in time to see the dual wheels come off a rear tandem straight for me. They went about 100 yards until they hit the fence in front of me, bounced back, and stopped.
It was a fairly new truck. The driver said he'd just had the tires rotated in Kansas City.
It happens.
November 21, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )