[A/S] trailer accidents

[caniteowl@xxxxxxx]

I kept putting off writing about something that has haunted me since the day 
after last Thanksgiving.  I took the San Joaquin line of Amtrak to So. Calif. 
You go by train to Bakersfield, catch an Amtrak bus which goes over the 
Grapevine to the LA Union station and catch another train for parts south.

Anyway, I was in the front of the bus to LA going down the freeway.  A few 
miles from the station the driver started pumping his brakes and I saw what 
looked like an overturned truck trailer in the middle left lane. As we got 
closer and then passed it on the right I saw that it was a travel trailer on 
its side and the car pulling it facing our way. It appeared to be still 
hooked up (but unlikey?). The sight that haunts me is the young man that was 
running between the trailer back to the car. He had already set down two 
bikes ( 1 with training wheels) behind the trailer so I knew young kids were 
in the car (some kind of van/suv). Boy, did my heart go out to him!!!

The bus driver tried to call 911 but didn't get an answer so he talked by CB 
to someone behind (either another Amtrak driver or a truck driver) and also 
called the train station.  If you've been on any of the freeways around LA 
you know the chances are high that you'll get run over and accordianed if you 
happen to get in a fender bender.  I could hardly believe that they hadn't 
already been hit but the traffic was just a little bit lighter than usual, I 
guess. Once the traffic finally gets stopped it ties up the freewqy for hours.

The scene stayed in my mind during the few days I was visiting family in 
Fullerton and sort of spoiled my visit.  I scoured the papers to see if there 
was a report of "family killed in vacation trailer accident on freeway". 
Nothing showed up which doesn't mean much in LA - there has to be 
multi-deaths in order to get mentioned in the news.

It has put a bit of a damper on my wanting to go Airstreaming - that and 
reports I have read here of trailer accidents. I'm going to be more nervous 
our next time out. I know, I know - if I'm going to be killed or maimed in an 
accident it is just as apt to happen near home sans trailer.

Have I cheered everyon up?
Norma