Two die in crash on Highway 101
WALDPORT, Ore. -- Two women died in a crash on Highway 101 Sunday morning when their van was hit by a fishtailing flatbed trailer, police said.
69-year-old Suzanne Carol Aiken and her mother, 94-year-old Loise A. Raether, died at the scene.
It happened about two miles north of Waldport at around 11 a.m.
Police said Spencer K. Foley, 23, was driving a pickup truck pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with an off-road vehicle when the trailer began to slide.
The trailer broke away from the truck and went into the northbound lane, where it hit the van. The off-road vehicle in the trailer also hit the van during the crash.
Police said both women were using seat belts, and airbags deployed during the crash.
Foley and his passengers were not hurt.
The Oregon Department of Transportation closed the highway in both directions while crews managed the crash scene.
Crews opened the highway just after 3 p.m.
if only all trailers had anti sway hitch bars attached this would not happen as much as it does. they make the trailer and vehicle act as one unit instead of like a person flying a kite in the wind. you don't hear about all the trailers that broke loose and did not hit another vehicle.Â
If people take the time when hooking up trailers to make sure it is in good condition, things like this would not happen.
A good strong chain (Class 8) will hold a lot. We have used these to make sure ocean containers are secured to standard flatbed trailers.
The driver also needs to make sure the trailer is loaded correctly so the load is centered or secured. Sometimes people put the weight too far forward or too far back, and this will allow some trailers to start fishtailing.
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Sad story all around...it only takes a few minutes extra to do it right
Why do I want to believe that Spencer K. Foley was driving his truck just like he drove his ATV?
Reckless driving should never be done on our highways!
The trailer came loose the exact same what that destroyed Mrs. Decker back in 2006 and looks exactly the same read the last page and wake up already...http://www.dangeroustrailers.org/uploads/TA14new.pdf
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The issue cannot be as clear....and we ask..why has Erie Insurance Ignored us? Why has Farmers Insurance ignored us? Why has Farm Breau insurance ingnored us? Why is it us and Purdue University produced any ground breaking safety material at no cost to you...but my own government has tried and stop us from presenting the truth and save lives.http://www.dangeroustrailers.org/uploads/PPP-92_Keeping_The_Trailer_Connected_To_The_Truck.pdf
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The owner of the Crappy Homemade trailer destroyed these two women....just like a gun man would......
Probably a kid who didn't know how to load a trailer or how to react if it got out of control. Crappy way to go.
 @2012 Hope and Change I'd also wager that he was driving too fast.  People that pull trailers over 55 or 60 MPH are begging for trouble.  They get these huge, powerful trucks to pull their little utility trailer and ATV and don't even feel it when it starts fishtailing.  I find it hard to believe that the trailer just jumped into the oncoming lanes.  I would bet you that the trailer took a few iterations before it went out of control and the kid just didn't know what was happening (which isn't an excuse!).
 @2012 Hope and Change Yes...but what do you do when every hitch pin...every hitch and every Utility Trailer being used on public roadways has never been tested to a NATIONAL STANDARD...!!! and you must know that every Safety Chain being used has no easy way for a young person to know what the breaking strength is!!!! and Washington and your State knows the truth. You can even build your own Homemade crappy trailer and use a 1 7/8 ball and tow it with a 2 inch hitch and the same accident will happen over and over again....
Why are people towing trailers that have never been tested to a NATIONAL STANDARD!!! Would any of you accept a baby seat from coming desingaged and flying through your windshield and destroying your baby? Then why are these lives any less significant when a TRAILER COMES DESINGAGED AND DESTROYS? Why has the news media been silent on over 300 deaths in 2011? Since 1975 over 16,000 deaths....since 1988 over 800,000 injured not by big rigs...but from Passenger cars that tow trailers. www.dangeroustrailers.org and see the evidence. Then go to facebook...PRAYERS FOR NATALIE....OVER 1,500,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS AND SEE HER EYES.....THEY WILL NEVER BE THE DAME DUE TO A LOOSE BOAT TRAILER HITTING HER!!
wow i hope it was quick
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So sad ....
The report us incorrect...the trailer did not detach from the truck...it fishtailed into oncoming traffic and was t-bonned by the van while still connected to the pickup...
 @Glenn Pierce Was the trailer homemade? Was the trailer rated to tow? When was in inspected? Why does California not allow you to go faster then 55 when you are towing a crappy trailer? Because they fishtail when you go to fast...!!!!
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California
Maximum speed for any vehicle towing another vehicle is 55 mph.
 @Glenn Pierce That is good information. You would hope he had safety chains firmly attached with such a big vehicle in the back of a big trailer like that. Wow, what a horrible impact - so sorry to all.
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Trailers just don't come unhitched....no safety chain?? Â Speed was a factor, obviously....trailers will fish tail when speeds are a factor. Â
 @PD1202 It can be a shaky road on #101 in some spots if you're not used some of the nuances. Following rigs like them always make me nervous.
"The trailer broke away from the truck..."
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No safety chains? If that's the case the driver of the pickup could find himself in a world of hurt with possible criminal charges.
 @RalphCramden Safety chains are there to keep the trailer  with the tow vehicle in case of a hitch problem.  In a major fish tail, they will just rip loose, speed is not a factor, it can happen at any legal driving speed.
 @RandyHÂ
I have seen some pretty bad crashes and the safety chains did their job. I have even seen trailers hanging over a bridge and the chains were holding on.
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But you could be right. Some chains are pretty cheap and will rip lose. We will probably never know as the press will not follow up on this.
 @shewiz  @RandyHÂ
My guess is that the ATV's might have come off the trailer at some point and became projectiles.
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As you state, it is pretty heartbreaking.
 @RalphCramden  @RandyH Anybody that hauls a trailer with a rig like this on it knows to put the safety chains on. Maybe the hitch came loose from the truck - who knows. Yes, I hope they figure it out. But, it's just one awful freak accident that those poor women could not escape. Heartbreaking.
That's an update, KATU?
A trailer hauling dune buggies 'detached' from the tow hitch and the vehicle following crashed head on into it. Two persons perished....A more detailed account can be had at....     www.newslincolncounty.com   Â
 @yaquina Trailers don't just come unhitched for no reason, somebody screwed up big time!
 @yaquina Ah...sad! Thanks for posting further details. Such a terrible loss.
C'mon with the update. Enquiring minds/readers wanna know what happened.
Roads are dry and good with light traffic. Hate to hear this. Most people do the Sunday leisurely drive when going on this stretch as the views are magnificent and road rage is rare.
Any indication of weather conditions, alcohol/drug abuse, road rage, or just reckless driving. Awaiting the inevitable update. Â