This is tragic. Eleven years ago at the same place at the Miami Airport, I did this in an RV, destroying my roof-top air conditioner. Not as tragic. Yeh, I'm an idiot, too. While I was trapped under the I-beams, a delivery truck did the same thing. While removing my air conditioner to get out, I noticed parts and pieces of every kind of truck-roof part imaginable stuck in the I-beams. The airport workers helping me seemed to imply this type of thing happens all the time at Miami International.
It probably happens at that airport many, many times per week, if not daily. My family will always rag me about my mistake, and I feel so badly for the deaths, that I'm compelled to write.
What caused me to proceed forward in an oversize vehicle? Two things, (1) it appears that you are supposed to cautiously look for the place to turn left (stupid, I know, and even stupider in retrospect looking at the signs), and (2) special buses that are not as tall as normal buses continually zoom under the same overhang, unimpeded. It is very deceptive.
As others have commented, there is not the usual yellow PVC "test" overhang, and there is nothing stopping you otherwise, except signage.
Yes, I'm an idiot, and my bad move did not lead to this horrible tragedy. But check the records and see how often this happens at this airport, and how preventable this was.
I have no idea the condition or experience of the bus driver, but in my opinion, there is also some culpability on the part of the airport design.
Sure would be nice if the Federal Government would institute a Federal Mandate to the states, for the protection of the federal taxpayers and federal voters, the states MUST/SHALL require all bus or van vehicles able to transport multiple passengers for business purposes and having a business license must/shall have all drivers obtain CDL licensure!!! These and many other accidents and other incidents of liability would come to a halt. Yes it would increase the costs to business in hiring people with better skills because of the labor costs yet the benefits to national interests are multiple in lowering the overall costs associated with these foolish incidents and accidents in reduction and costs associated with the losses of all of these people now harmed and their families that are forced to deal with the losses of family members and the injuries. Those losses are far greater than those experienced by small business when requiring better trained cdl employees-especially those associated with nationwide tours and those dealing with the transportation of people with disabilities. Come on legislators-get to work!!!
I think even if the driver was not familiar with the area, he should have seen all the (literal) warning signs! It seems almost cartoonish. "High Vehicle STOP Turn Left." The other, placed to the left of the driveway several feet in front of the barrier, says all vehicles higher than the 8-foot-6 threshold must turn left." where is the great big sign that says "We warned you!!" ... This isn't funny. It is very serious and the driver is definitely at fault. There is nothing that can be spinned that would make the driver not at fault when there are two large warning signs.
A simple low-technology laser beam device (like have been at store entrances for decades) to detect overheight vehicles and several large red, flashing STOP signs would be better than allowing the occasional overheight vehicle to crash into such an overpass.
Hate to say it wont work. so many cities have mainly truck stuck and some buses but mainly trucks. DOT hangs metal bars, chains etc so show people how low it is yet they still get stuck. speaking, reading english and common sense would help
It's highly hypocritical of most of you to come down so hard on this guy for verbalizing what all of you were thinking when you first saw the picture. This is a morbidly obese person, and not sure how she even survived the accident.
When walking thru a store with my 7 year old one afternoon, he saw a lady on a a transport chair. He noticed her the first time literary a few feet in front of him. His reaction was in the form of, 'wow, she's fat!'. She heard him, and laughed. So did he. And I followed their lead.
Honesty is almost always the best approach. Had people in these folks lives were as brutally honest with them as my 7 year old was with a stranger at a store, may be they wouldn't get this far.
very recently I was reading a book about airplane emergencies and apparently most of those are not fatal because it happens too close to the land but one episode stuck me that in one of those accidents with fire on the airplane, more then 40 people dies because an obese person was blocking the way out plus she was seating in the emergency exit.You basically have seconds to get out and apparently, that is not unusual that very large people hinder the evacuation.
Obviously the people that hate your comment NEVER have been the EMS, Fire personel that HAVE TO LIFT HER!!!!!!!!!!! If she needed an IV, meds etc? shes a walking medical, logistical nightmare.
This lady is a human being and it doesn't matter how big she is! She also has feelings just like any other person and she was a woman in need of help! That's all that matters!
And as for you, wtcmedic911, you were hired to do a job and lifting large people is part of your job. If the patient or victim is so large that the normal amount of paramedics can't lift them then you call in and ask for help. You don't gripe about it, you just do it! If you can't or don't want to lift large people then you're in the wrong occupation! You need to find another line of work!
And another thing, have none of you thought about the fact that there are many physical problems that cause obesity? Hypothyroidism is one of them! I know for a fact that overeating is NOT always the cause!
Obesity can also be caused by certain medications!
You people who are saying hateful things about this lady now could very well find yourselves in her same condition, or worse, in your later years. You should be careful what you say about her now because later you'll reap what you're sowing!
You could find yourself obese and injured or sick and needing someone to lift you!
JERRY, you should change you name because you are disgracing the Beaver! Beaver was polite and well brought up and would never make stupid, hateful remarks about anyone else's appearance!
Neither would the Jerry Mathers who played the Beaver!
Xxlip Even though the woman may have laughed at your son's remark no doubt her feelings were hurt and she just chose to laugh it off rather than cause a scene.
If you had been the kind of mother that you should have been you would have immediately made him apologize to the lady even though she laughed! It was NOT funny and to allow your son to make remarks about others is teaching him that there's nothing wrong with hurting others. It is also teaching him to be disrespectful to his elders!
You should be teaching him manners and to treat others the way that he wants others to treat him and to respect his elders rather than laughing at him! Your son clearly needs discipline and you are doing him NO FAVORS by letting him get by with hurting people!
He'll make a remark about someone sometime and that person won't laugh it off. It might be another kid and that kid might beat the crap out of him and it won't be anyone's fault but your's!
The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.
Reply to Comment The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.
It probably happens at that airport many, many times per week, if not daily. My family will always rag me about my mistake, and I feel so badly for the deaths, that I'm compelled to write.
What caused me to proceed forward in an oversize vehicle? Two things, (1) it appears that you are supposed to cautiously look for the place to turn left (stupid, I know, and even stupider in retrospect looking at the signs), and (2) special buses that are not as tall as normal buses continually zoom under the same overhang, unimpeded. It is very deceptive.
As others have commented, there is not the usual yellow PVC "test" overhang, and there is nothing stopping you otherwise, except signage.
Yes, I'm an idiot, and my bad move did not lead to this horrible tragedy. But check the records and see how often this happens at this airport, and how preventable this was.
I have no idea the condition or experience of the bus driver, but in my opinion, there is also some culpability on the part of the airport design.
speaking, reading english and common sense would help
Lots of people really want to be outraged, however. You sure didn't disappoint them!
When walking thru a store with my 7 year old one afternoon, he saw a lady on a a transport chair. He noticed her the first time literary a few feet in front of him. His reaction was in the form of, 'wow, she's fat!'. She heard him, and laughed. So did he. And I followed their lead.
Honesty is almost always the best approach. Had people in these folks lives were as brutally honest with them as my 7 year old was with a stranger at a store, may be they wouldn't get this far.
Maybe they used an engine jack?
And as for you, wtcmedic911, you were hired to do a job and lifting large people is part of your job. If the patient or victim is so large that the normal amount of paramedics can't lift them then you call in and ask for help. You don't gripe about it, you just do it! If you can't or don't want to lift large people then you're in the wrong occupation! You need to find another line of work!
And another thing, have none of you thought about the fact that there are many physical problems that cause obesity? Hypothyroidism is one of them! I know for a fact that overeating is NOT always the cause!
Obesity can also be caused by certain medications!
You people who are saying hateful things about this lady now could very well find yourselves in her same condition, or worse, in your later years. You should be careful what you say about her now because later you'll reap what you're sowing!
You could find yourself obese and injured or sick and needing someone to lift you!
Neither would the Jerry Mathers who played the Beaver!
If you had been the kind of mother that you should have been you would have immediately made him apologize to the lady even though she laughed! It was NOT funny and to allow your son to make remarks about others is teaching him that there's nothing wrong with hurting others. It is also teaching him to be disrespectful to his elders!
You should be teaching him manners and to treat others the way that he wants others to treat him and to respect his elders rather than laughing at him! Your son clearly needs discipline and you are doing him NO FAVORS by letting him get by with hurting people!
He'll make a remark about someone sometime and that person won't laugh it off. It might be another kid and that kid might beat the crap out of him and it won't be anyone's fault but your's!