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Fatal Semi Rollover Shuts Down Highway Near Salida

by KREX News Room
by Cori Coffin

Story Created: Sep 22, 2012 at 10:58 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 24, 2012 at 7:42 AM MDT

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo.- A fatal semi-truck rollover near Salida left Highway 285 closed in both directions on Saturday for several hours.

The crash happened just after noon at mile marker 119 near Poncha Pass.

A tractor-trailer traveling southbound veered to the right side of the highway, overcorrected and rolled off the left side of the highway.

The 45-year-old male driver from Alamosa died on the scene.

His name has not yet been released, pending notification to next of kin.

Colorado State Patrol is investigating the accident, but does not suspect speed, alcohol or drugs to be factors in the crash.

Both sides of the highway have since been reopened.

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Donald J Kaleta said on Sunday, Sep 23 at 8:35 AM

Please search DEFORMABLE KINGPIN that explains a simple to understand solution to forbid a tractor to follow into destruction during rollover events. The concept is the same as to why you have fuses or circuit breakers in electrical systems in your home, office or car -- a failsafe -- to prevent further destruction. This innovation is a simple modification of a component, the trailer’s coupling kingpin, whose design has been a standard for over 70 years, which can be made to deform and not allow an extremely stable tractor to follow to destruction when the trailer, that is the dominant controlling force, is in IMMINENT peril for rollover, that includes also blown over tractor trailers. Donald J Kaleta

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