In a remarkable escape, no one was seriously hurt or killed when a vehicle towing a caravan collided with a road train on WA’s Albany Highway.
The caravanners were overtaking a road train with two trailers full of grain heading south near Narrikup when the accident happened last Thursday.
The West Australian reports that police said a ute and the caravan it was towing began to sway while trying to pass the truck, and a collision ensued. The newspaper says the truck driver tried to avoid the collision and jack-knifed his heavy vehicle, causing the truck and one trailer to roll on their side.
Grain was spilt from the rolled trailer and the debris littered the highway stretching across all three lanes.
Emergency services attended the scene of the accident PIC: WA Police Force
The caravan was completely destroyed in the crash, but the vehicle towing the caravan was not seriously damaged.
The West Australian reports that the elderly couple driving the Holden ute and their two grandchildren, aged four and seven, miraculously walked away unharmed from the crash.
The male truck driver in his 50s was taken to Albany Health Campus with head lacerations.
Albany police officer-in-charge, Sen. Sgt Hugh Letessier, told the West Australian that it was amazing that no one was seriously hurt.
“It is very, very lucky they all got out unscathed,” he said. “It was a fairly major event but fortunately everyone was okay.”
The West Australian reports that the Albany Highway was closed in both directions for several hours. Petrol and grain among other things had to be cleared off the highway and the vehicles also removed.
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We need mandatory driver training for people towing for the first time with vehicle dynamics they are not familiar with when travelling at highway speeds.
Turbulence from the road train probably could have affected the car and caravan. It does happen, I’ve felt it when trucks pass me.
Who on their right mind overtakes a road train while towing a caravan.
It can be done safely but you need a suitable straight, be very sure of your rig and your abilities.
There is a venturi effect as the van gets alongside the truck which will tend to suck the van toward the truck and then as you move past the air bow wave of the truck will tend to push it away so creating the van to sway.
If you are aware of this and the rig is set up correctly, a pass on a road train can be made safely. I have done it many times but certainly pick my spot to do it.
Someone who thinks 110km per hr( WA’s speed limit) is the right speed to do towing a caravan whilst overtaking a semi – not!
I have seen people towing Caravans over take Triples and when they get past they slow down. You can’t teach some people who think they own the road any new rules