there are times when I see this kinda thing lately I wonder what's the story on the driver of the pickup? Drunk? or? A tragic crash on a rural, two-lane highway in New Hampshire took the lives of at least seven motorcyclists and left three others injured Friday. State police said a 2016 Dodge 2500 pickup truck collided with the motorcyclists on U.S. 2 in Randolph. Additional details will be released as authorities investigate the tragedy. Bystanders who witnessed the crash began scrambling for first aid kits and blankets to treat injured people scattered along the road, but at least for seven of them it was too late – they died on the scene. WMUR TV ✔ @WMUR9 #Breaking News: WMUR has a crew on the way to the scene of this serious crash involving multiple motorcycles and a truck on Route 2 in Randolph. This story will be updated: https://www.wmur.com/article/serious-crash-involving-motorcycles-pickup-shuts-down-route-2-in-randolph/28143655 … Two other people were transported to the Androscoggin Valley Hospital and one was airlifted to Maine Medical. It remained unclear what their current condition is. Parts of the rural two-lane highway was closed Friday evening, state police said, and would be closed for several more hours as investigators look for clues about what caused the crash. A photo posted by WMUR-TV shows motorcycles and wreckage scattered across the road while a truck was in flames. “There was debris everywhere,” Miranda Thompson, 21, of Manchester, told the Associated Press. She was several cars back and said she saw a truck in flames on the side of the highway and six motorcycles. “People were in the grass. There were people putting tourniquets on people, trying to make sure they didn’t move,” she said. “You could tell people were lost who it happened too ... It was a sad day for all of them.” Gov. Chris Sununu tweeted his condolences, saying "our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, & first responders who answered the call." more info on site New Hampshire highway collision leaves 7 motorcyclists dead, 3 injured
Rt 2 sucks. Used to live on the maine side and drove rt2 all the time. Never went as far west as NH but I doubt there is much difference between maine and nh rt 2.
Terrible . We'll just have to wait and see what the reason was . Either way , lives are lost , families are grieving . Your world can change in an instant . I was reading some of the comments , and they were just disgusting . Most of the few I read ranged from egotistical men to , now less Trump supporters . There's no civility left in this world .
Strange, headline should have said: Dodge Heavy Duty Truck rated to tow 18,000 pounds and a heavy duty flat bed trailer crossed center line and made a head on collision with a group of tourist on Motorcycles on a perfect evening on a clear road. All targets were taken out, truck burns as the driver is escorted to a place of safety. Been there on a 4 lane road in Houston.
Comments on every story I have looked at about this have over all just been repulsive. I won't go so far as to say is no civility left but sure am seeing very damn little in regards to this one.
Some years back I was laying on the edge of the pavement.. Only the local wildlife was involved fortunately.. Prayers for the survivors!!
The driver has been identified Authorities identified the pickup driver as Volodoymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, an employee of a Springfield, Massachusetts, company called Westfield Transport. The motorcyclist are said the be members of a marines motorcycle group. I have a feeling the driver of the truck was under qualified to drive that truck with a trailer.
Names of driver and business owner remind me of Russian Mafia. I expect to hear the Insurance is not valid as the driver was not qualified and thus the Tourist Motorcyclist will not receive Insurance from their policy or the Trucking Firm. But you know me, suspicious at best paranoid at worst. EDIT Note Insurance Companies have a practice of refusing coverage if the Driver was breaking the laws of the US while operating the commercial HEAVY Duty Equipment. I still wonder why the phrase "PICK UP" is being used! Look for a major cover up.
Could be he was driving a hot shot rig which could be a pick up. Still comes under most regs for cdl holders.
Due to the fire and poor quality pictures it is not possible to see any DOT markings. Open bet that the Kid was running dead head as a fill in driver.
Doesn't take any special lic. to drive a Dodge 2500 dualy, and dragging a big trailer doesn't matter either. "If" he was hauling for hire the state might require something extra, but for the most part a 16 year old with a three day old lic can drive that rig to school. I see young idiots pushing setups like that down the roads around here all the time - Without a load on the trailer the things bounce all over the place. Very curios why a truck that new burned... Sucks...
Laws vary by state, and I was happy to see commercial rigs of all kinds down to any hauling vehicle here required to have safety inspection yearly. If I was to guess, from viewing the few photos, the trailer brakes were never in operation. If so then a empty 30 foot flat bed weighing in around 7000 lbs was pushing a small tow truck all over the road. Yes, maybe a operator's mistake or just bad equipment. Bottom line is 7 are dead.
FWIW, I do have a bit of experience in hauling and of operating an old style wrecker. Item below is about the style and condition of what I drove as a 16 year old wrecker driver employed at a wrecking yard. I seldom did Call Outs at wreck sites usually just picked up junkers at auctions or storage yards. At that time I had to have a Chauffeur's License that was a "junior" cdl. All the rules of a cdl just size and complexity was less. No road test was required and the BOSS was very aware of my limited abilities. That year of experience surly taught me more than I wanted to know about blood and guts and the aftermath of wrecks. That time as a wrecker driver has served me well in hauling loads that today's young drivers have no clue about. One really bad wreck and a night time call out, involving a youthful driver will live with me forever. So my post and opinions are not personal in nature nor do I want to appear judgemental, just that I have seen what happens.
I started driving rigs like that when I turned 16 hauling hay and farm equipment in agriculture. Experience, mechanical understanding, and a responsible attitude aren't limited to the middle aged. There are a couple of mechanical failures that could result in this like a blown steering tire, lost tie rod, or braking with faulty trailer brakes causing the trailer to "come around". However, I agree that driver inattention is probably the cause. After the first hit, the trailing bikers had a mess of heavy debris flying at them. What a nightmare.
Seems something has happened with this issue... 7 homicides it seems... Truck driver charged with 7 homicides in motorcycle crash
Another drunk who was still on the road after prior offense who should have lost his license for 5 years not just a few and never have a commercial license.
ICE moves against Ukrainian charged in NH biker crash ICE moves against Ukrainian charged in NH biker crash – Boston Herald The driver also was still new to his job. Dartanyan Gasanov is the principal of Westfield Transport Inc., according to licensing records. Gasanov said the wreck occurred during Zhukovskyy's second trip with the company, on the third day of his 30-day trial period. This guy never should have been hired as a driver. He had an awful driving record. Also, state police found several wax packets in his pockets that are commonly used in packaging of heroin. The packets are being tested by police and additional charges could follow.
The Latest: Mass RMV head resigns over crash that killed 7 CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The Latest on a deadly collision between a truck and motorcycles in rural New Hampshire (all times local): 8:40 p.m. The head of the Massachusetts motor vehicle division has resigned for failing to terminate the commercial driving license of man whose collision with a group of motorcyclists in New Hampshire left seven dead. Twenty-three-year-old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy pleaded not guilty Tuesday to seven counts of negligent homicide and was ordered to remain in preventive detention in New Hampshire, with a judge saying his driving record poses a potential danger to the public and himself. Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack said in a statement that the RMV failed to act on information provided by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles about a May 11 incident involving Zhukovskyy that should have cost him his license. As a result, she accepted the resignation of Erin Deveney. Connecticut prosecutors say Zhukovskyy was arrested May 11 in a Walmart parking lot in East Windsor after failing a sobriety test. Zhukovskyy's lawyer in that case, John O'Brien, said he denies being intoxicated and will fight the charge.
