Truck drivers on their own when it comes to high winds

The wind is likely behind three semi-trucks knocked on their sides Friday in El Paso.

From the Spaghetti Bowl and up U.S. 54 to Transmountain Road.

TxDOT officials told ABC-7, although they do provide signage to warn drivers about high winds, they do not close state roads or over passes due to high winds. That means drivers have to use their own common sense when it comes to going over over passes and through mountain roads when winds are that stiff, upwards of 60 and even 70 miles per hour in some places.

Only one injury was reported as a result of the three flipped trucks. A woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after that truck flipped on Transmountain. A Northeast El Paso woman told ABC-7 she was in a vehicle next to that truck when it was blown over.

“I saw it fall flat on its side and then it skidded a little bit,” Victoria Daniels said. “We saw the sparks flying everywhere and my husband swears it was a foot away from the end of our trailer. Really, really close.”

TxDOT officials told ABC-7 they can’t remember the last time three trucks were toppled one after another.

El Pasoan Daniel Rivas has been a long haul truck driver for more than 20 years and he saw the video of the three trucks that flipped.

“Man that was terrible,” Rivas said. “I bet they really got scared.”

When semi trucks are full they weigh about 80,000 pounds, Rivas said. However, when they’re empty they only weigh about 34,000 pounds, making the trailer much like a sail in high winds.

“The difference is the weight keeps you stable on the road,” Rivas said. “When its empty it’s got you going everywhere.”

TxDOT officials say truck drivers need to pull over when winds make it dangerous.

“What people can do is if they have a high profile vehicle park it until the wind stops,” TxDOT El Paso District Engineer Bob Bielek said. “There is nothing that we can regulate because there is no one to regulate other than God.”

Truckers told ABC-7 there is little they can do, especially if they encounter high winds on over passes and mountain roads.

“Give us a little more space because you never know what can happen,” El Paso truck driver Jesus Ocampo said.

Luckily only one person was hurt as winds topped 60 and even 70 miles per hour in some places on Friday, close to hurricane force.