Think of the tanker driver’s life

I read the article in your newspaper about Bob Skelding, the man whose horse-driven camper was struck from behind on a highway by a tanker truck. Picture this, because this is what happened: There are two semis ahead of you; the first merges into the passing lane, then the one behind it does the same — you’re the tanker driver behind them.

When the second semi entered the passing lane, there in front of you is a camper being pulled by four horses. You’re probably going at least 45 mph, which is usually the minimum speed. What do you do? There’s no time to think about what to do, there’s just no time.

So the truck rams into the camper injuring its driver, maiming two of the horses and killing the other two. The tanker ended up jack knifed off to the side of the road.

There aren’t many roads today that are considered safe for horse travel; hayrides have been banned for that reason and the Amish have been struck and killed in their horse drawn wagons. According to Skelding’s sister, this was the latest of many near misses, but he’d been chasing a dream. While he was chasing his dream, he made the tanker driver’s life a nightmare.

Marie Teixeira

Lombard