A contender for the November “Dumb Driver of the Month” award must be this one. Daylight Pass Road, in California’s Death Valley National Park, has some downgrades of almost 7.5%. It’s a narrow, twisty, dangerous chunk of roadway, and clearly marked as prohibited for commercial traffic.
But for some reason, this driver decided they could take their semi, loaded with 44,000 pounds of chickpeas, down Daylight Pass.
Death Valley dumb driver cooks brakes, chickpeas
The results of the stunt were seriously predictable. The brakes on the big rig overheated, catching fire. The driver road it on down, finally stopping when he hit the flat roadway of California 190.
But it was too late—the load was on fire.
“When a commercial truck has a wreck or catches on fire,” says a press release from the Park Service, “we worry about what it will release into the park. However, there’s very little chance that stray chickpeas not cleaned up will become invasive species in the driest place in North America.” This footnote from Death Valley’s Superintendent Mike Reynolds.
The National Park Service received notification of the fire around 5:30 a.m., November 21. Death Valley National Park, Caltrans, and California Highway Patrol responded. Two Star Towing removed the wreckage and cleaned up the remaining dried chickpeas. Soup, anyone?
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This was an entirely preventable crash, and there are far too many of these occurring with large trucks. The cost of this cleanup should be billed to the company who owned the truck. In fact, all large single vehicle truck crashes like this should have all expenses associated with the cleanup billed to the trucking company. When the companies start having to pay for driver stupidity, they may emphasize driving safely.
Two star towing removed the trailer and cleaned up the chick peas. I’m sure they will bill the company for the cost. The company will then send it to their insurance company along with a request for payment for the trailer that was destroyed. Then the insurance company will raise everyone’s rates to pay for the driver’s stupidity.
You are exactly correct Wallace, top to bottom. Good drivers and bad drivers all share to cost to cover the bad drivers and sometimes the good drivers.
..and clearly marked as prohibited for commercial traffic..
Would insurance still pay out?
Yes. I know an insurance agent who paid for a load of potato chips, when the driver chose a shorter high altitude route instead of the supplied low altitude route.
Welcome back, Mike.👍 Have a good night, and a happy and healthy 2025! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Just how do you “emphasize driving safely”? Almost all trucking companies say their drivers are the safest on the road, which is BS. The pool of experienced drivers is small, and the good ones work for the same companies as the bad drivers we all see. I worked for two really great companies over my years in the industry. I worked with drivers I respected, and those that made me wonder how they got hired in the first place. Almost all companies have a sign as you leave the yard that reads, “Through This Gate Passes The Safest Drivers On The Road”.
Sounds like Harry Chapin’s song, 30,000 Pounds of Bananas!
CFS
GPS has become more prevalent in the trucking industry whereas drivers are not allowed to change course. That could lead to following an unsafe route with hazardous consequences.
Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina! Yes, was not only illegal, but also dumb, dumb, dumb. Not too much can dissuade dumb from doing dumb things. At least took no one with them. Happy new year and safe travels!