Trash-hauling company plans to install new warning system

A light will go on in the truck cab when the boom is extended, a company official says.

THE VINDICATOR

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

VIENNA — The company that owns the container-hauling truck that struck an overpass over state Route 11 is beginning to install a warning system to help prevent a similar accident.

What’s more, the National Solid Waste Management Association will be reviewing equipment safety issues when it meets in March.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol released Thursday its report of a Dec. 18 accident in which Raymond Cross Jr., 46, of Mercer, Pa., died.

The report said that Cross, a driver for Tri-County Industries Inc. of Grove City, Pa., left the boom of a roll-off truck he was driving in the extended position. The boom struck the Niles-Vienna Road overpass, causing the truck to overturn and killing Cross.

According to the report, Cross picked up the trash container at the Target store at the Eastwood Mall, drove it to Grove City, where it was emptied, and returned to the store, where it was reinstalled.

On the return trip to Grove City, the boom struck the bridge.

“Everybody has the same problem,” Edward Vogel, Tri-County vice president, said Friday of the lack of a warning system.

So far, Tri-County has installed a warning system on one of its 15 to 20 roll-off trucks similar to the one driven by Cross.

A light in the truck cab goes on when the boom is extended, Vogel explained. He noted that warning systems will be on new trucks the company purchases in the future, or the company might look at using other types of trucks.

Tri-County is a member of the National Solid Waste Management Association. It holds its annual meeting March 26-28 in San Diego.

Gary Satterfield, NSWMA executive vice president, said the organization’s safety subcommittee will no doubt discuss safety issues dealing with hoists.

If it’s a matter of great concern, Satterfield explained, a recommendation may include the installation of warning systems on all container-hauling trucks, or it may be resolved through additional driver education.

“We take these things very seriously,” said Craig Wallwork of NSWMA’s equipment division.

He said the subcommittee reviews its safety standards on a continuing basis to determine if there are any “shortfalls.”

According to the accident report from Route 11 and Niles-Vienna Road, the bridge is 15 feet 9 inches high. The truck boom is slightly more than 25 feet when extended.

Using a height pole, the patrol found that the truck was able to clear the traffic signals, wires, signs and branches before coming to the overpass, the first bridge the truck encountered.

The distance is five miles from the Target store to the overpass, according to the report.

yovich@vindy.com