As someone who enjoys the freedom of riding on two wheels on a beautiful summer afternoon, I was shocked and saddened by a story over the weekend about a motorcyclist killed in a terrible crash in Puyallup, Wash. But I am doubly troubled that the crash was apparently caused by an unattended septic service truck that rolled into an intersection
According to news accounts, a 30-year-old man was riding his motorcycle through an intersection when he was struck and killed by the vacuum truck that rolled about 500 feet down a slope. The truck’s driver told police he’d set the parking brake, but an investigation showed no signs that the parking brake had been engaged. The driver was cited for negligent driving and lack of control of the truck.
The initial stories didn’t indentify either the motorcyclist or the truck driver.
This is a tragic cautionary tale about the importance of taking safety precautions every time a septic service driver heads out for the day. It’s also sends a strong message about ongoing safety training. What do you do to ensure the safety of your drivers and the general public? Share your ideas right here or drop me an email at editor@pumper.com.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable when they’re on the road. We rely on everyone around us driving safely and all too often drivers are distracted these days, which leads to dangerous road conditions. Please don’t text and drive. Eliminate as many distractions as possible while behind the wheel. And concentrate on what you’re doing, even when you’re just parking the truck.
