Recovering an overturned tractor-trailer (there's a twist, too).

in #life7 years ago (edited)

20170706_203246.jpg
Full image
On Thursday night, i got called out to assist in the recovery of an overturned tractor-trailer. I do traffic control so i closed down a lane of traffic, on the interstate, so the wrecker crew has room to work. We we get called out, the wreck has already been handled by emergency crews. The tractor-trailer is off the road and is sometimes a few days old. I don't know the condition of the driver on this one.

I've been called out to assist with many of these. This one started off normally, just like the rest. My partner and I make the 100 mile trip to get out there. We set up the right lane closure on the interstate. It ended up being just over a mile long, which is about a half mile longer than the regulations call for but its in a curvy area so we had to extend it to where the road straightens to give drivers plenty of time to see it (we also have signs up to let them know the right lane is closed ahead.)

20170706_202101.jpg
It's hard to see but is at about a 45 degree angle. The tractor is actually still connected but its facing downhill and backwards.
20170706_202739.jpg
Full image

There is a lot of equipment out here: 2 huge wrecker trucks, 1 large wrecker truck, a tool truck (a SWAT truck converted), a flat bed semi hauling a street sweeper and a skid steer, our truck and trailer, and a highway patrol car.
20170706_212427.jpg
Full image

The boom on these wrecker trucks have 4 independently controlled cables (only the 2 main cables were used). The boom can extend and retract, raise up and down, rotate and slide forward and back. The price take on one of these is around $600,000 (i asked). They are amazing machines.
20170706_203246.jpg
Full image
20170706_203736.jpg
Full image
20170706_210234.jpg
Full image
Oh yea, i forgot to mention......they are REMOTE CONTROLLED!
20170706_233558.jpg
Full image

They hook one wrecker to the front of the trailer and one to the back.
20170706_211154.jpg
Full image
20170706_211012.jpg
Full image

They slowly and carefully work each cable. The front truck pulls it towards the road sideways (and keeps it from tipping over) and the back truck pulls it straight back. This is a very slow process and they constantly have to reposition the cables and, sometimes, the trucks. There are also obstacles like trees and the guard rail(whether is in the way or tangled in the trailer) that need to be cut.
20170706_232642.jpg
Full image
20170706_233735.jpg
Full image
20170706_233506.jpg
Full image

Slowly, they make progress.
20170706_224134.jpg
Full image

20170706_232110.jpg
Full image

20170707_003056.jpg
Full image

20170707_010030.jpg
Full image

And finally, it's ready to be towed away.
20170707_013312.jpg
Full image
20170707_013147.jpg
Full image

It took about 6 hours for them to complete the recovery.

** The Twist **
Remember the highway patrol car?

While all of this was going on, a driver cut into and was driving in the lane closure. I'm not sure how he didn't see all of the flashy lights but he ran into the patrol car. No injuries.
20170706_214247.jpg
Full image
20170706_215435.jpg
Full image

I hope you found this interesting. Thanks for reading!

All photos taken by me.

Sort:  

One time we had over 1 dozen over turned semis here in colorado. These powerful gusts of wind were just flicking them over like match sticks. I will post that one of these days.

That wrecker machine is fucking badass!!! I like cranes and pully systems its so interesting!! Great pics thanks for sharing!!!

This post received a 2.2% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @bronxb17! For more information, click here!

Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by bronxb17 from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, and someguy123. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network. Please find us in the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.

If you like what we're doing please upvote this comment so we can continue to build the community account that's supporting all members.