Truck driver ran over and killed @ Loves Truck Stop parking lot

Kmossphotos · Nov 9, 2009

MEMPHIS, TN - Memphis police have identified a man that was hit and killed by a tractor trailer at a Love's Truck Stop in Southeast Memphis.

Paul R. Barton, 72, was hit on the right front bumper of the big rig, as the driver pulled from diesel pumps and made a left turn.

No charges have been filed in the case.

###Story Posted Earlier###

MEMPHIS, TN - A man is dead, after being hit and killed by a tractor trailer at a Love's Truck Stop in Southeast Memphis, just after 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.

Police at the scene say the man, who remains unidentified, walked in front of the truck as the driver was pulling off from the truck stop located at 3371 Lamar near American Way. The man was hit and dragged around 20 to 30 feet before the driver realized what happened and stopped. The victim was trapped underneath the 18-wheeler. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Memphis police are investigating the death and say it is too early to determine any specifics in the case.

OntarioVanMan · Nov 9, 2009

Kmossphotos said:
MEMPHIS, TN - Memphis police have identified a man that was hit and killed by a tractor trailer at a Love's Truck Stop in Southeast Memphis.

Paul R. Barton, 72, was hit on the right front bumper of the big rig, as the driver pulled from diesel pumps and made a left turn.

No charges have been filed in the case.

###Story Posted Earlier###

MEMPHIS, TN - A man is dead, after being hit and killed by a tractor trailer at a Love's Truck Stop in Southeast Memphis, just after 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.

Police at the scene say the man, who remains unidentified, walked in front of the truck as the driver was pulling off from the truck stop located at 3371 Lamar near American Way. The man was hit and dragged around 20 to 30 feet before the driver realized what happened and stopped. The victim was trapped underneath the 18-wheeler. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Memphis police are investigating the death and say it is too early to determine any specifics in the case.

There is a guy not feelin the Love...

pelicn · Nov 9, 2009

How sad.
I always try to make eye contact with the driver, and never walk close to the front of a truck at the fuel island.

greg334 · Nov 9, 2009

This and the Bay Bridge incident really makes you wonder.

layoutshooter · Nov 9, 2009

I was listening to the reports on the Bay Bridge thing. The driver was doing 10mph over the speed limit on tight "S" turns. There does, however, seem to be a problem on that bridge. They were saying that there have been 40 accidents at that same spot on the bridge since it re-opened in August. There is something not right to have that many in that short of time in one spot. Watch for a lawsuit or 3 in the near future.

layoutshooter · Nov 9, 2009

More on the Bridge thing.

SAN FRANCISCO – An accident-plagued stretch of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge saw its first fatality Monday when the driver of a speeding big rig lost control and the truck plummeted 200 feet from the span, authorities said.

The truck hauling a full load of pears was traveling about 50 mph — 10 mph over the speed limit — when the driver lost control on a westbound S-curve, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Trent Cross said.

The rig hit a rail and went over the side, landing on Yerba Buena Island.
"The driver was going way too fast," Cross said.

The name of the trucker killed in the crash was not released.

Authorities said the speed coupled with the shifting load propelled the truck over the side of the bridge.
Lanes were closed following the pre-dawn crash, backing up traffic during the morning commute.

The California Department of Transportation plans to replace roadway markers Monday night that were damaged during the crash, spokesman Bart Ney said.

The agency also plans to add reflective paint to the railing that motorists can see as they go through the curve, he said.

There have been about 40 crashes on the S-curve since it opened Sept. 8. The speed limit drops from 50 mph to 40 mph along that stretch of the bridge, but drivers are advised to slow down even more to 35 mph through the curve.

The S-curve is a temporary detour until construction on a new, seismically safe eastern span of the bridge is completed.

Cross said speed was responsible for most of the crashes that have taken place on the curve, including an overturned big-rig on Oct. 14 that tied up traffic for hours.

"We don't believe the roadway design is the issue," he said. "There's just a small percentage of people who choose to ignore the posted speed limit."

Transportation officials have improved traction on the new section and installed additional signage reminding drivers about the change in speeds, Ney said.

Officials also plan to install signs showing drivers their speed and a large overhead sign with flashing lights indicating the 40 mph limit, he said.

Steady Eddie · Nov 10, 2009

There was this little "M" word - Little person that use to hang out at Exit 20 on I 40 just east of Memphis. I think he was homeless, always stayed on the east exit ramp by the rails. He was found dead. A big rig made a left turn and got the little guy with the trailer wheels. They never found out who did it.....