Cross Junction, VA — Authorities have identified Mark Jenkins as the man whose 18-wheeler drove down a 200-300 ft. ravine in Cross Junction, Virginia, on Wednesday, August 27, 2014. The accident took place just off of North Frederick Pike, around eight in the morning.
How the accident occurred is still unknown. Emergency workers worked for nearly half an hour to free Jenkins, who they said was, “heavily entrapped.” Jenkins was taken to INOVA Fairfax Hospital and rushed into surgery.
Jenkins was driving the truck for Mad River Transportation, hauling plastic that was meant to be recycled.
His vehicle was destroyed in the accident. Authorities have said that the truck’s trailer appeared to have flipped over on top of the cab. The accident is still being investigated.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
Many people have a view of 18-wheelers that doesn’t quite match up to reality. Yes, if one crashes into a Scion XB, the Scion will be smashed to pieces. However, if the 18-wheeler ever crashes into something more substantial, the cab is often destroyed. The truth is, they’re not very strong. They’re more akin to plastic garden sheds bolted down onto steel sleds. As a matter of fact, 18-wheelers suffer from a whole host of safety issues. One of those is their stability out on the road. If a truck’s load is improperly loaded, the truck can very easily tip over if the vehicle makes any sort of sharp turn. From what’s been reported, this sounds like a workers comp case, unless perhaps, there was something mechanically wrong with the truck.
— Grossman Law Offices
