Rockslide on the Dragon!

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

Saw the video on the news last night, but didn't hear until this morning that it happened on the Dragon. Video shows a car whose driver apparently noticed the rockslide a little too late and drove right up over on top of it.

 

On one hand, you wonder where his eyeballs were. OTOH, his brake lights were on - it just looks like he didn't brake very hard. On the third hand, he had his dog with him in the car, so maybe he was deliberately braking gently so as to not slam the dog into the dashboard? Huh. FWIW, the dog probably hit the ceiling.

 

 

[KevinH]

WOW

[racer7]

This appears to be on the flat down by the lake on the W side so its off the curving parts of the Dragon and on the "runout" if you do it E to W, the more common way to start for most.

 

Shows how oblivious a lot of drivers are.

 

Rockslides anywhere in those mountains are not uncommon. Its loose crumbly stuff, not hard granite. Last year there was a well known slide a ways from there that clogged a more significant road. They happen most often in wet weather when the weight of water helps pull loose stuff that has eroded and cracked over time. Some are large enough to block roads for months- this one will obviously be cleared out fairly quickly. Local don't appreciate them because there are few roads in the mountains and detours are long.

 

 

[ESokoloff]

 

.......On one hand, you wonder where his eyeballs were. OTOH, his brake lights were on - it just looks like he didn't brake very hard. On the third hand, he had his dog with him in the car, so maybe he was deliberately braking gently so as to not slam the dog into the dashboard? ........

 

And on the forth hand at least he popped it into reverse to help slow down

 

I'm guessing the activity on the right shoulder distracted him from SEEING the slide ahead of him.

[tallman]

Obliviously another case of unintended acceleration.

[Paul Mihalka]

Odd that with police already there, there were no warning signs ahead on the road. Or he missed that too?

[tallman]

Paul,

I think he saw an opportunity and took it.

He'll sue for lack of warning and traffic control by local authorities.

His dog is probably afraid to ride in the car anymore.

He'll settle for $62,500.

[Paul Mihalka]

Paul,

I think he saw an opportunity and took it.

He'll sue for lack of warning and traffic control by local authorities.

His dog is probably afraid to ride in the car anymore.

He'll settle for $62,500.

And the lawyers on both sides will make about $300.000.

[Albert]

He should just nail his whole car to the Tree of Shame.

[Matts_12GS]

Maybe this be cleared before BRR, if not, at least there are many many better roads to ride!

[hANNAbONE]

rEMIND mE not to buy a Lincoln, okay?

[marcopolo]

Probably the same king of driver who'd run into a motorcycle and say "I never saw it".

[pickersgill1]

Looking at the distance from where the camera panned around he had plenty of time to stop, probably on his mobile phone.

 

The type of guy who pulls out of T juntion and says to the biker, "sorry mate, did not see yah" With the biker laid on his back in the road & bike embedded in the side of the car/auto!

[Whip]

He shoulda stood up on the pegs.

 

[FlyingFinn]

He shoulda stood up on the pegs.

 

And give it gas to unload the front suspension. What a rookie....

 

--

Mikko

[effexer1]

And it wasn't a Toyota this time!!!

[David13]

Another idiot on the road what doesn't watch where he is going. How many of them are out there?

dc

[Kinsley]

Tim, you were low

Paul, it's the plaintiff's Lawyer that gets the $300,000

 

Plaintiff's lawyers might get 40% of the total awarded by the jury

Defense Lawyers (like my wife) get paid by the hour.....but it can take many hours

 

Brynda doesn't represent in TN, but with this one I could farkle up the new ride

[ratfink]

Seems like the cameraman saw it coming.

[Green RT]

Rockslides anywhere in those mountains are not uncommon. Its loose crumbly stuff, not hard granite. Last year there was a well known slide a ways from there that clogged a more significant road. They happen most often in wet weather when the weight of water helps pull loose stuff that has eroded and cracked over time. Some are large enough to block roads for months- this one will obviously be cleared out fairly quickly.

Not to nitpick, but it most likely is not the weight of the water that makes the difference, but rather the effect the water has on the coefficient of friction between the various layers in the slide material.

[Bob Foley]

Looks like one of the Baldwin boys. Could be a little Jim Beam in the Lincoln!!

[pokorskij]

I believe the dog was driving.

[DewNMoon]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LxZ4Mi3rR3Q/S59W9-uaj6I/AAAAAAAAd6U/qS5Y8a0IeJc/s1600-h/IMG_0940.jpg

 

http://www.easttnriders.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34711

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

I believe the dog was driving.

 

Nah, I'm pretty sure the dog would have seen the rockslide.

[Nice n Easy Rider]

Another idiot on the road what doesn't watch where he is going. How many of them are out there?

dc

 

Unfortunately, a lot more of them than us.

[JayW]

Defense Lawyers (like my wife) get paid by the hour.....but it can take many hours...

 

Reminds of the young attorney who suddenly found himself in front of St Peter and began complaining that he had been called "home" so early. St Peter shuffled through his paperwork and then said, "Hmmm, well based on your billing hours we thought you were 79."

 

Jay

[bobbybob]

He should just nail his whole car to the Tree of Shame.

 

Now THATS funny.

[Joel]

Acute anal-cranial inversion is the diagnosis I would make.

[Fubar]

Maybe this will be cleared before BRR, if not, at least there are many many better roads to ride!

Posted today (3/29/10): http://www.dealsgap.com/

Emergency Contract Awarded for U.S. 129 Rockslide Repairs

Incentive Provided to Complete Work by July 1, 2010

 

TN DOT has a web page for information on the rock slide at www.tn.gov/tdot Click on the link “Rockslide Closures”.

 

Good that they are getting on it. The loss of tourista dinero is quite an incentive, I reckon.

That being said, there goes this summer's vacation idea. Even if done by July 1 I'll miss a ride there this year. 2011 maybe.

[Fubar]

This appears to be on the flat down by the lake on the W side so its off the curving parts of the Dragon and on the "runout" if you do it E to W, the more common way to start for most.

 

INFO: On 14 March 2010 US129 had a large landslide several miles NORTH of the Dragon.

 

Rockslides are not uncommon. Its loose crumbly stuff, not hard granite. They happen most often in wet weather when the weight of water helps pull loose stuff that has eroded and cracked over time.

The water is a factor but not due to weight. The freeze/thaw cycles split the rock and the water decreases the friction just like with our tires and wet asphalt. Gravity does the rest.