Log Truck Driver Killed After Slamming Brakes To Avoid Motorist
by Jana Ritter - Published: 2/22/2017The careless driving of a motorist resulted in the senseless death of a truck driver hauling logs on a highway near Franklinton, LA. The truck driver was forced to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision, which caused the logs he was hauling to crash through the cab of his truck and instantly kill him.
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Louisiana State Police identified the truck driver as 30-year-old Christopher Rex Blansett of Sumrall, Mississippi. The incident occurred at around 3 p.m. on February 20 when he was simply doing his job, hauling logs eastbound on LA 10. He came up behind a 2004 Ford explorer driven by Bogalusa resident, 36-year-old April Bertoniere. She was also heading eastbound but driving slowly and straddled partially on the shoulder of the highway and partially in the eastbound lane.
Police say that as Blansett approached Bertoniere’s vehicle, he moved into the westbound lane in an attempt to pass her. However, police say that shortly after Blansett entered the westbound lane, Bertoniere made an abrupt decision to turn left from where she was on the right shoulder and cut across both lanes to enter a private driveway on the westbound side of the highway. Bertoniere’s careless move caused her to nearly crash into Blansett’s truck and it was Blansett who attempted to avoid the collision by slamming on his brakes. Although his quick response did prevent the potential crash, the force of the sudden stop caused his load of logs to shift forward and push through the cab of his tractor. Tragically, the logs caused him fatal injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Bertoniere's vehicle was not hit and she was not injured.
Trooper Dustin Dwight said Bertoniere provided troopers with a voluntary breath sample and it showed no signs of alcohol. A routine blood sample was also obtained from the deceased truck driver and has been sent to the State Police crime laboratory for analysis. However, Dwight said alcohol was not suspected to be a factor in the accident. There hasn’t been any mention of whether or not investigators are looking into how secure the logs were fastened to the truck. Either way, it was the carelessness of another driver that ultimately cost Blansett his life. While it’s not known if Bertoniere will face any charges, Dwight said that the crash is still under investigation and any violations of Louisiana Law will be forwarded to the Washington Parish District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
“Safe decisions remain one of the most important factors in protecting yourself from being involved in a crash,” said Dwight. “The decisions you make could not only affect you, but others as well. Speed, carelessness, impairment, and distractions are all the product of poor decisions behind the wheel. Please, speak to your loved ones about the importance of safe decisions. The conversation you have today could be all the difference tomorrow.”
Yet the motorist is not held for the accident or death This is the part that pisses me off, almost all truckers will take a way out to avoid hitting motorists and then end up with the blame Well if the Damn motorist wouldnt cut them off or pull stupid acts infront of or on the side of trucks the Truckers wouldnt have to play dodge car will driving down the road at legal speeds, because the trucks are governed at like 62 mikes per hour minding there own business Hwy patrol and all people in blue/ beige need to hold motorists responsible when its a clear case of their guilt. Oh and sorry loads will shift if a chain or strap break No matter if its done by the book and they usually are, truck scales check on that everytime they go through and with loads 80,000 and above weights you cant just stop or swear out of the way easily
This article doesn't say the motorist isn't held accountable for the crash! Ever been involved in the investigation of a fatal truck crash? The last one that I had anything to do with, took 6 months and that was for a single truck rollover that killed my brother. Matter of fact, this article does list anything of the kind. So quit assuming that the car driver is going to get off!
We always go back after 25 50 , 100 miles just to check our chains, or straps !!
Georgia has an impaired driver blitz when they need to start paying attention to 4 wheelers that don't leave space and cut drivers off. Do they ever write a ticket for that?
Mike Brinson, I don't know about Georgia, but I know out west, the LEOs most definitely write those types of tickets.
Seriously the driver died to prevent an accident and they are concerned about the load...pathetic
Always blame the trucker they have better insurance so better to sue the crap out of them
Of course they are concerned about the load, as well as the condition of the truck, the condition of the car, and the condition of both of the drivers. It's called an investigation for a reason!!!!
They're concerned about the load because it shifted under braking and killed the driver. Makes sense to me.
Aaron, read my post, they will investigate all aspects of the case until they can determine what happened.
Aaron, read my post, they will investigate all aspects of the case until they can determine what happened.
Back in the day I haul logs four straps or cable there nothing going to hold them or stop them when it starts forward headache rack is like a tin can when it hits rip driver
Back in the early 80's I seen a solid headache rack stop a load of steel pipe that broke loose so yes they can help
Lol. They guy was lucky, and you dont know shit about headache racks, if steel, logs, pipes have movement and abrupt stop they are a missle projected forward It might help it might stop it movement but more than likely its coming through the cab
Clydene McKee an you a cook at nursing home and you know headacke racks?
Harold Bell, and just like a trucker that might have been a chef before trucking, I would say she knows a hell of a lot more about trucking and headache racks then you do. So please if you don't know shit, just go away, you're wasting our time!
Headache racks aren't magical, but this happened under braking, not a collision. That's scary stuff.
I have had three friends killed because the headache racks didn't stop the load from going thru the cab.
But all law enforcement believes its always the truckdrivers fault
BS
Take blood from the truckdriver. But hey its not the cars fault. This is why if there are no kids in the car. Im running right over the top of your dumb ass. Im not the one who's gonna die for your stupidity.
Took breath test of the car driver also but apparently you didn't read that!
Police still haven't said whether the load was sufficiently secured...? they'll find any way to blame it on the driver...... the old double standard and we just keep letting it happen, sad.
BS! Got any idea what goes into a fatal truck crash investigation? I didn't think so. A single fatal truck crash, can take 6 months or longer to be investigated.
Victor Collins as the owner of a trucking company, yes i do and may i add that any crash my equiptment has been involved in has never taken more than 4 weeks by law enforcement, 6 months for the insurance companies to argue who hets how much.
I noticed that you did not list a fatal crash in your review, ever had one? The crash that I was referring to was a single truck rollover that killed my brother and it took 6 months for the WSP to finish the report! So Mr Owner, I guess we all can learn a thing or two. Have a good and safe day, sir!
I noticed that you did not list a fatal crash in your review, ever had one? The crash that I was referring to was a single truck rollover that killed my brother and it took 6 months for the WSP to finish the report! So Mr Owner, I guess we all can learn a thing or two. Have a good and safe day, sir!
I noticed that you did not list a fatal crash in your review, ever had one? The crash that I was referring to was a single truck rollover that killed my brother and it took 6 months for the WSP to finish the report! So Mr Owner, I guess we all can learn a thing or two. Have a good and safe day, sir!
Victor Collins are you a driver? if so most likely a company driver or have never owned more than 1 truck not to mention not having your own authority. unless your in this industry you have no clue what your talking about. sorry for the loss of your brother but it sounds like from what you said it was a single vehicle accident, that would explain the 6 months, they had to figure out the cause of the crash. you need to know more about trucking than your brother passing to comment a dam thing. in the accident i commented on, there was a auto involved, big difference.
Daniel Mark Miller, well sir I don't know if you would call me a driver or not? Only been in this industry for 30+ years, so I might still be a rookie! My brother's crash ended up being a single truck rollover crash because he was protecting two cars that were coming up the hill at him, so because he was trying to protect them, he did not have the space he needed to save the truck. Now you are correct, I have never been dumb enough to by a truck or to request my own authority. Always made to much money letting someone else worry about that shit. Now let me explain something to Mr all smart owner, with a grandfather, a father (truck owner), two brothers (multiple trucks owner), plus 30+ years myself in the industry, I can tell you this, as a so called owner, your ignorance of the industry is showing. Maybe you should go back to your desk.
Driver's instead of debating what we all have done or what you all think this driver could have done Why not Just send your Condolences to his Loved one's.We may not of known this Man but he was part of the trucking industry..
If the rolls were reversed the truck driver would be charged with a death and it should be the same fir the other driver who caused the accident. My husband & I run teams and have been in this profession for 32yrs.
Who is saying the car driver won't be charged with the crash therefore the death of the truck driver? You?
The fact the load was improperly secured is the actual cause of death. Saying that the chains/straps are not going to keep the load from shifting is a poor argument. The fact is that if the chains/straps are not strong enough to do the job then either the load should have been lightened or bigger stronger or more chains/straps should have been used. The motorist may have been the reason the trucker slammed on the brakes, but the reality is that that just exposed the chains/straps to a test and they failed. The true question is, who is responsible for determining what is needed and making sure they are adequate for the job? The answer is either the truck drive or the truck owner. I'm sorry this man lost his life due to this preventable accident, but blaming the motorist isn't going to change the facts. Anything that would have caused him to slam on the brakes at that speed, would have caused the same results.
Sorry but you don't sound like you speak from experience. Your entire post sounds like theory. The government sets those standards, the driver might exceed those standards but doesn't get to set the minimums. This article doesn't say the load was improperly secured, it says that it is being questioned, as all things in a crash like this should be questioned.
Victor Collins the fact the logs were able to move into the cab and strike the driver is fact not theory. That makes it obvious to me that the chains/straps intended to prevent this from happening were either to few, to weak, or insufficientely tightened. They are suppose to be able to prevent movement in the forward direction against the maximum deceleration achievable by the truck in an emergency braking situation on a dry road. In regards to who is responsible for making sure the logs are properly secured, I'm not sure who is legally responsible but the driver has his on safety to consider.
The 4 wheeler is the cause and should be charged. Was the properly secured is a way out... Log truck have steel side bars to help hold the logs in place. How ever log are a rough, uneven, noncomperssionable load. You can use a dozen binders and under the right circumstances one will shift. All precautions may have been taken and done right but at that point all hell can break loose.
So sad prayers for family of driver. About headache racks. My understanding a good rack holds load back as it takes you in the cab off the frame in one piece.
In theory what you hear is true but in actuality just like anything man is involved with, it doesn't always work that way.
One part of the job that blows. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Either way, it's the truck driver who pays for 4 wheelers lack of intelligence
I'm under the impression that a flat bed needs a headache rack on the front of the trailer or the rear of the tractor but federally must have one
Not correct, has been changed.
How many times can we step into either one of their shoes. Halo's for all. What we think is not very important. Maybe we have all been either a close call or perhaps the cause unknowingly, unwittingly, perhaps. Who knows. Maybe driving too slow, too fast, preoccupied. (Preferably not the case) Or said...oh sh..., glad that's not me and continued down the highway in our own little world. Pray and watch our own driving and let our Highway Patrol do their job. They are always looking for more Troopers who want and need to do a fair and balanced job daily on overcrowded roads. Dorothy
If not facing charges, it is always possible for the driver's family to seek redress in civil court. From the narrative it appears possibly a case of distracted driving.
The car driver may be facing charges, as of the time of writing this article, the investigation into the crash is still open.
I would like.to add if i was the wife or.child of this truck driver she would be sued..i would t care how long it took or how much..it is the point behind what she did.
Was the woman tested for drugs it was her fault at least he can Rest In Peace hope she can't
She was indeed tested for alcohol!
But not drugs
Jeanie Archer, very seldom is a truck driver tested for drugs so why should the car driver be?
Victor Collins y
Should check her phone for texting. Sorry for the poor Driver and his family
The log trucks here in SC use nylon ratchet straps for securing the logs . Not much holding them on . Years ago it was chains/binders
Many states do not allow Chana on logs anymore because when the chain breaks you get a lethal whip effect.
This is the reason I have a dash cam now. Go ahead and pull some dumb shit like that. I'm going home to my family at the end of the day.
Prayers to the truckers family 🙏🙏🙏🙏But the 4 wheeler should b held accountable for his death due to her ignorant moves , the Trucker lost his life. So sad. 😪😪😭😭
I'm sorry I can't do it, if you make a stupid mistake I am not giving up my life for yours
That pisses me off she needs to face charges for this. He may have been better off just running into her ass😡
Who said she won't face charges?
Well they can't blame the car driver that would make them responsible for that life assclowns
This is bull shit. I've seen logs go right though headache racks
Who gives a shit if the load was secured ? A driver lost his life ! What happened to the four wheeler that caused the wreck is what I'd like to know ?
So she wonr be charged but u.better believe if it was the trucker fault charges would of been put on him that day. Stupidity
"Law Enforcement"...ok, where IS the law enforcement?
Now you know damn well if that would have been the truck fault he would be going to jail so why isn't she
No you don't know that!
Most log haulers dont have headache racks because of the hang over.
No headache rack is gonna stop 55,000 pounds o logs
I'm Sure his load was secure RIP Driver
Harold Bell, that is why you load coils shotgun instead of suicide.
I was taught over 20 years ago 4 wheeler causes a accident you run him over with his paint on your truck, and make sure your in the right with witnesses.
So sad to hear that one of our comrades went down may you be in peace in heaven cuz we know your login up there may your family have peace and may God surround all of you in this time of need we are truck drivers ourselves so our hearts go out to you and your family may the Lord be with you
Another sad day in the log trucking world
Prayers for his family
RIP Driver
RIP driver prayers for the family
Damn
Rip
I sure hope they throw the book at that dizzy twatwaffle!
Rest in peace driver.
So sad, prayers for the driver's family
RIP DRIVER
R I P driver!!!
RIP brother.
4 wheelers are ignorant of big trucks, no clue
😪
My condolences to the family of the log truck driver.
May he RIP.
R I P driver. Prayers for your family and friends
R.I.P Driver prayers go out to your family
Heartbreaking
R.I P. Driver!!
RIP TRUCKER
Hey, nice job, keep posting!
Chg the car driver wiht manslayer
RIP Driver
R.I.P
Graber Anthony
Tony Jacobs