Trucker leaps into tanker truck to stop vehicle after its driver dies

July 20, 2012

A trucker jumped from his rig on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to stop a tanker truck whose driver died behind the wheel, according to a report in the LeHigh Valley Morning Call.

State police said the trucker, who was not identified, saw the slow-moving tanker truck in the left northbound lane on Sunday, July 15, pulled over, ran to the truck, climbed aboard and stopped it.

Cetronia Ambulance Corps determined the tanker’s driver, Richard C. Cole, 59, of Avondale, Chester County, had died. The Lehigh County coroner’s office pronounced him dead at the scene at 5:17 p.m.

Cole’s death was not considered suspicious, police said.

About the Author

Deborah Whistler

Sponsored Recommendations

Reducing CSA Violations & Increasing Safety With Advanced Trailer Telematics

Keep the roads safer with advanced trailer telematics. In this whitepaper, see how you can gain insights that lead to increased safety and reduced roadside incidents—keeping drivers...

80% Fewer Towable Accidents - 10 Key Strategies

After installing grille guards on all of their Class 8 trucks, a major Midwest fleet reported they had reduced their number of towable accidents by 80% post installation – including...

Proactive Fleet Safety: A Guide to Improved Efficiency and Profitability

Each year, carriers lose around 32.6 billion vehicle hours as a result of weather-related congestion. Discover how to shift from reactive to proactive, improve efficiency, and...

Tackling the Tech Shortage: Lessons in Recruiting Talent and Reducing Turnover

Discover innovative strategies for recruiting and retaining tech talent in the trucking industry during this informative webinar, where experts will share insights on competitive...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!