Class A in pieces after accident, Ellensburg

There is many rigs in this area going well over the speed limit. Slight down hill grade in area. Speed is 60 MPH in area for vehicles over 10,000 pounds.

Forum members get the benefit of these educational videos. But what about non-members? I would like to see every large RV driver go through what I went through to get my CDL: studying the manual, passing the written(s) and a driving test. Cali and some other states have started adding endorsements but, in Cali's case, only for DP's longer than 40' and the heavier trailers. All motorhome drivers should get the training.

Anybody can go down to their local Commericial DMV office and get a free copy of the same study material required for the semi drivers. There are also plenty of practice tests on the internet to see if you learned anything. Anyone know the proper way to test their airbrakes? There's videos for that, too.

Point is there is plenty of material/videos available so that everyone can be a better/safer RV driver.

With regard to "the videos",....there are many. The vast majority of the examples of a blown front tire event clearly indicate that a blown front tire is NOT the direct cause of the loss of control. Most of us know that there's more to the story. And NO, I am NOT nitpicking. I would love to explain, except I suspect that I would be accused of being insensitive.
It's obvious to me that the root of the problem is that there is a failure to analyze these videos analytically, systematically, logically, methodically, scientifically......

Just guessing, but I suspect the apparently-homemade trailer was rather heavy and had ineffective brakes if any.

Very sad. But a lot of people can learn from this! Always check your tires. And replace 5-7 years. I’ll bet that coach was running on OE tires!
The trailer had nothing to do with the accident! Watch the other you tube video of the guy in the MH that blows a tire. Not much you can do once it happens!

dodge guy wrote:
Very sad. But a lot of people can learn from this! Always check your tires. And replace 5-7 years. I’ll bet that coach was running on OE tires!
The trailer had nothing to do with the accident! Watch the other you tube video of the guy in the MH that blows a tire. Not much you can do once it happens!

If it's the one I'm thinking were the trucker captured it on his dash cam I think the trucker said he was going 65mph RV passed him pretty quick.

This one

It's the possible tire situation that caught my attention. Jalopnik.com has been reporting steadily on the Goodyear G159.

azdryheat wrote:
Forum members get the benefit of these educational videos. But what about non-members? I would like to see every large RV driver go through what I went through to get my CDL: studying the manual, passing the written(s) and a driving test. Cali and some other states have started adding endorsements but, in Cali's case, only for DP's longer than 40' and the heavier trailers. All motorhome drivers should get the training.

Anybody can go down to their local Commericial DMV office and get a free copy of the same study material required for the semi drivers. There are also plenty of practice tests on the internet to see if you learned anything. Anyone know the proper way to test their airbrakes? There's videos for that, too.

Point is there is plenty of material/videos available so that everyone can be a better/safer RV driver.

When our state was thinking about an endorcement for what you mention, the RV dealers beat it down to state Capitol to protest, and how much tax money the state would lose if public couldn't buy whatever they wanted to buy. End result...lots of people shouldn't even be on the road in anything.

mike brez wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Very sad. But a lot of people can learn from this! Always check your tires. And replace 5-7 years. I’ll bet that coach was running on OE tires!
The trailer had nothing to do with the accident! Watch the other you tube video of the guy in the MH that blows a tire. Not much you can do once it happens!

If it's the one I'm thinking were the trucker captured it on his dash cam I think the trucker said he was going 65mph RV passed him pretty quick.

This one

Please allow me to take exception to "Not much you can do once it happens".
Does he mean you can't control your motorhome once the front tire blows out? You see, I'm totally convinced that the main cause of failure to remain in control is instant BRAIN FREEZE (for a few seconds). The thing is, you do NOT have ANY time to waste.
You look at it this way: What is the driver doing the last 5 minutes BEFORE the first sign of a blowout? I believe the driver was steering the motorhome, and has his hands on the steering wheel. I have to believe he knows how to do that. So, why does the driver NOT keep on working the steering wheel as soon as the air starts going out of the tire. In the above video, the driver does a classic "brain freeze" error,...he doesn't even turn the steering wheel to the right, not even a little bit. In fact, just the rolling resistance of the flat tire is allowed to rotate its spindle to the left and it in turn rotates the spindle on the right,....the traction of the right front tire is used for helping turn in the wrong direction. The MH is actually steered right into the ditch(median). Yes, the fact that the right front drops a bit, AND the body rolls a bit to the right,....proves it to me. I've actually done it on purpose in my Dutch Star,.....twitch the steering wheel to one side at 60 mph. In two seconds (2) it's into the other lane!
Once you're on the grass, pointing away from your lane, there's no recovery.

I read a article from the Yakima newspaper and the reporter said he talked to the Washington State Patrol, and the WSP said they suspect tire problems caused the accident! I’m now retired but used to drive truck from Kent to Ellensburg I know that stretch of I-90 very well. If that RV and trailer would have been going a little faster or slower it would have been possible for it to have gone into the Eastbound lanes of I-90. The RV went in between the two bridges down into Wilson Creek. The WSP was shocked when they pulled the driver and passenger out, then discovered 7 children inside the coach either deceased or hurt! A total of 9 people were in that RV.