Distracted Trucker Rams Six Emergency Vehicles, Killing Officer (with Dashcam)

[LAGC]

PHOENIX — The driver of an empty fuel tanker was using his cell phone to look at photos of women on Facebook when he crashed into three police cars and two fire department trucks on Interstate 8 in May, killing an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer, records obtained by the Star show.

Officer Tim Huffman was killed in the May 6 wreck on eastbound Interstate 8 in Yuma County. The truck driver, Jorge Espinoza, is charged with second-degree murder and other crimes.

The investigation report was made public today after an Arizona Daily Star public records request.

Espinoza was driving 65 mph with the cruise control on when the crash happened. He initially told investigators he didn't see the police cars because he was looking in his mirror at a passing truck. He also said he never uses his phone while driving because it is against company policy, the police reports show.

http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-...9bb2963f4.html

Looks like he had his wallet propped up there to block the dash-cam from showing him using his cell-phone while on cruise control. You can see it fly out of his hands there at 0:08.

Talk about major pucker factor. This asshole had no business being a trucker.

[rci2950]

he should be jailed for 25 years and never be able to get behind the wheel the rest of his life.

[Altarboy]

Oh man as a driver that sort of thing scares me.

[Schuetzenman]

He's toast and rightfully so.

[Justin]

This guy needs to go to jail for a very long time. His actions have caused another man to lose his life, and as LAGC pointed out; it looks like he purposely propped his wallet up in front of the dashcam to conceal his activities from his employer. He probably did this multiple times, and got away with it because he wasn't involved in any accidents. Now he must suffer the consequences of his negligence.


With that being said, I still don't understand why a police car was stopped in the middle of the road. The truck driver probably wouldn't have ever crashed his vehicle if the cop was pulled off on the shoulder. Maybe there's something that I'm missing?

[Aggressive Perfector]

I agree Justin, but people do things that just do not make any damn sense and you have to pay attention. Especially when driving, or handling firearms. It's safe to say that cop car should not have been there. But even had it not been, that trucker should have gotten over one lane regardless. I do believe that is the law in just about every state. When emergency response vehicles are on the shoulder, get the fuck over. Even if that is not the law, it's sure as shit the right, and SAFE thing to do.

[Justin]

I agree Justin, but people do things that just do not make any damn sense and you have to pay attention. Especially when driving, or handling firearms. It's safe to say that cop car should not have been there. But even had it not been, that trucker should have gotten over one lane regardless. I do believe that is the law in just about every state. When emergency response vehicles are on the shoulder, get the fuck over. Even if that is not the law, it's sure as shit the right, and SAFE thing to do.

I agree, I always move over into the left lane if possible, even if the police or emergency vehicles are on the shoulder. I use to be a volunteer firefighter, and I have experienced what it's like to be on the highway when we responded to motor vehicle accidents. My biggest fear was an 18 wheeler crashing into us, just like the one on this post.

[stinker]

With that being said, I still don't understand why a police car was stopped in the middle of the road. The truck driver probably wouldn't have ever crashed his vehicle if the cop was pulled off on the shoulder. Maybe there's something that I'm missing?

From the article.

Other officers and medics who were with Huffman responding to an earlier crash with injuries witnessed the crash and tried to save Huffman, who had been sitting in his car. They pulled the windshield and dash off his car to try to help him, and they got a Jaws of Life tool out of one of the crashed fire trucks, but Huffman died in the car, reports show.

Cop was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing. Traffic control and added visibility on an accident scene.

[Aggressive Perfector]

Well then police departments and Highway Patrols better start thinking about finding another way to do this. Because idiots like this are everywhere.

[Dr. Gonzo GED]

Well then police departments and Highway Patrols better start thinking about finding another way to do this. Because idiots like this are everywhere.

Usually they leave the berries on so it's sort of like a road flare but even better...

...at least for drivers who are actually looking at the road...

[El Duce]

Truck driver fucked up bad. And should pay for it. Here in WV if you are caught texting, talking hand held. 200.00 fine. I am ok with that.

[Kadmos]

Not saying it wasn't the drivers fault. But if you're going to have a cop car stop in the middle of the road, maybe pick one that has lights on top!

[TEN-32]

The EMS and police crews were working a crash. The car that got hit was there to close a lane of traffic for the other first responders to work the crash. I saw activated lighting although not an exterior lightbar. To suggest that the trooper somehow shares abrogated responsibility in this is ridiculous. I don't feel any particular animus toward the truck driver. He obviously was inattentive. He will get his day in court.

[Kadmos]

The EMS and police crews were working a crash. The car that got hit was there to close a lane of traffic for the other first responders to work the crash. I saw activated lighting although not an exterior lightbar. To suggest that the trooper somehow shares abrogated responsibility in this is ridiculous. I don't feel any particular animus toward the truck driver. He obviously was inattentive. He will get his day in court.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have been there, but I do think there was something of a lack of precaution by not using a car with a light bar on top, cones, flares, etc.

I'm using a small screen here, but it doesn't even look like the cop had his hazard lights on.

Seemed to me there were maybe 6 seconds between the cop car being a dot on the horizon until impact, with what appears to be a 65 MPH speed limit.

[TEN-32]

I'm not saying they shouldn't have been there, but I do think there was something of a lack of precaution by not using a car with a light bar on top, cones, flares, etc.

I'm using a small screen here, but it doesn't even look like the cop had his hazard lights on.

Seemed to me there were maybe 6 seconds between the cop car being a dot on the horizon until impact, with what appears to be a 65 MPH speed limit.

Yeah...totally the cops fault.

[Kadmos]

Yeah...totally the cops fault.

Would you stop in the middle of the road with your hazards off and just chill in the car?

[Dr. Gonzo GED]

The cop car's red and blue lights were flashing. That should elicit a little more attention than even yellow hazards. That and the half dozen other emergency vehicles parked in that lane. Kind of hard to miss.

The accident wasn't caused by emergency personnel doing their job. It was caused by a guy in a truck who was looking at his phone instead of what was in front of his vehicle.

[TEN-32]

Would you stop in the middle of the road with your hazards off and just chill in the car?

No...of course not. Why do you ask?

[FunkyPertwee]

No...of course not. Why do you ask?

He's hoping you'll pick him up for a date.

[Kadmos]

The cop car's red and blue lights were flashing. That should elicit a little more attention than even yellow hazards.

I see one very small blue and one small red light flashing at the top of a tinted rear window for maybe a second or so before the wreck.


Also two very large taillights that aren't blinking, or lit up...giving the appearance of a moving car.

That and the half dozen other emergency vehicles parked in that lane. Kind of hard to miss.

The view of which is easily blocked by the cop car.

The accident wasn't caused by emergency personnel doing their job. It was caused by a guy in a truck who was looking at his phone instead of what was in front of his vehicle.

I don't disagree, but I think there is a bit of lack of diligent care on the part of the cop.