Sleepy Trucker Kills 2

[tay]

The driver of a tractor trailer has been arrested for allegedly falling asleep at the wheel and causing a "horrific" crash that killed two people and injured nine others on Route 222 in Berks County early Wednesday morning.


The trucker, identified as Steven Bernier, 50, of Reading, has been charged with two counts each of homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter, nine counts of aggravated assault while driving, and 10 counts of reckless endangerment.


The accident happened around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday on 222, near Route 73, in front of the Dunkin' Donuts in Maidencreek Township.


Adams described the video, recorded by Dunkin' Donuts surveillance cameras, as "telling" and "graphic."




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Fatal accident closes Route 222 in Berks County | Regional: Berks - Home

 

[shadowshiv]

I hope they throw the book at him. I don't care what his reasons for staying up for so long are. If you are tired, pull the **** over! Those two people would still be alive if not for him.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Well at least the fire fighters got a free coffee.

Seriously though, this is systemic of how the trucking industry is regulated and run.

I hope they throw the book at him. I don't care what his reasons for staying up for so long are. If you are tired, pull the **** over! Those two people would still be alive if not for him.

One other thing. Sometimes its really tough to find a place to pull over. In a lot of places it is illegal to park on ramps and I have actually been booted out of a rest area in PA because the trooper didn't like where I was parked. I explained there were no other places and he told me to get up the road and find another spot or get ticketed.

I see this dude was driving a day cab. So he shouldn't be driving beyond 11 hours.

 

[shadowshiv]

Well at least the fire fighters got a free coffee.

Seriously though, this is systemic of how the trucking industry is regulated and run.



One other thing. Sometimes its really tough to find a place to pull over. In a lot of places it is illegal to park on ramps and I have actually been booted out of a rest area in PA because the trooper didn't like where I was parked. I explained there were no other places and he told me to get up the road and find another spot or get ticketed.

I see this dude was driving a day cab. So he shouldn't be driving beyond 11 hours.

I understand what you are saying, Mark. However, you and I both know that there are drivers out there that continue driving regardless of whether there are places to safely rest or not. Thankfully, the majority of drivers are NOT like this, and sleep when they need to.


And I'm sure, as a truck driver, you've seen some things about the trucking industry (the companies themselves) that make you want to bang your head against the dashboard. I imagine you have to put up with a lot of bullcrap.