Nov. 1, 2012
Following two Wisconsin residents due to city trucks mounted with leaf vacuums that can obscure the truck driver’s view of the road, the Wisconsin State Patrol is ticketing drivers or owners of the vehicles if they are driven on the road.
The Herald Times-Reporter reports that last fall, an 18-year-old boy from Sheboygan was killed while crossing the street after being struck by one of the trucks with the front-end vacuums. Then this month, a 43-year-old Neenah man was critically injured after being hit in a collision with one of the vehicles.
The common factor seems to be ductwork from the front-end vacuums that can block a driver from seeing the road. In response, the Wisconsin State Patrol has ordered cities across the state to halt use of the vehicles immediately until the safety concerns could be addressed.
The Public Works Director for the city of Oshkosh stated an operator of one of the city’s vehicles was issued a warning citation on Monday by the State Patrol for driving one of the vehicles, resulting on the city’s fleet being pulled and modified. Neenah has also had to pull all of its leaf trucks off of routes as well until modifications can be made that will bring the trucks up to code.
The Appleton personal injury lawyers with Sigman Janssen Injury & Disability Lawyers understand the importance of ensuring vehicles are safe to drive before they hit the streets and are hopeful the changes can be made quickly and efficiently.
