Big Rig Clips Bucket Truck, Leaving Worker Hanging for Their Life

      WBRZ/YouTube

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      This week, a technician who was servicing a traffic light had a disastrous day when a semi-truck struck the bucket they were in, leaving them suspended upside-down over the roadway. A dash cam caught the entire incident clearly. Fortunately, the worker managed to avoid serious injuries, but it's unlikely they'll be eager to work in a bucket again after this experience. The video is quite dramatic.

      The event took place in Denham Springs, Louisiana, located slightly east of Baton Rouge. The footage has been shared across various YouTube channels and Facebook groups, originally uploaded to Facebook by Bill Atkinson.

      Local ABC news channel WBRZ reported that they spoke to the Denham Springs Police Department, which stated that “the worker suffered only minor injuries and did not require hospitalization due to the safety harness they were wearing.” I had never considered that these workers might use safety harnesses, but now that I've seen this clip, it definitely makes sense.

      An investigation is underway to determine if any charges will be filed. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development must be involved since the traffic light featured in the video is managed by the state. It appears the service crew came from either a local agency or a third-party contractor, as the markings on the work trucks do not resemble those of LaDOTD.

      “I can’t understand how that truck managed to make that turn without hitting one pole on one side and without hitting the truck,” said Fred Raiford, East Baton Rouge Parish Director of Transportation, in an interview with WBRZ. The outlet also relayed Raiford's remarks regarding safety: “When people are working on roadways, there should be required signage or barricades indicating that part of the lane will be closed.” It seems, however, that lane closures are not mandated by policy for certain road work scenarios.

      From what I gather, both the truck driver and the road crew share responsibility in this incident. Drivers of any vehicle should be mindful of the space their vehicle occupies, especially those behind the wheel of commercial vehicles. The driver of that big rig is accountable for the airspace taken up by the top of the cab and trailer. Nevertheless, placing someone in a bucket over an open lane of traffic appears reckless to me. Why wouldn’t there be signs and cones set up to prevent vehicles from driving underneath someone using a harness?

      I suspect that this is the question the Louisiana DOT will consider during their investigation. At least the person in the bucket had on their harness. Stay cautious out there; unexpected obstacles can sometimes appear in your path!

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