In The News
Police say limping truck caused fatal crash
A police report reveals that advice to a trucker to limp his rig to a service center on a flat tire led to a rear-end crash that killed two FedEx team drivers.
The crash that killed Federal Express Ground team drivers Tony Sifford of Hillsville, VA, a member of America’s Road Team with 2 million safe miles, and Rodney Palmer of Martinsville, VA, occurred shortly after 8 a.m., Sept. 24 on a stretch of Interstate 20 near Ruston, LA.
A 2000 Freightliner operated by Pete Francis of Jonesboro, GA, had been on the shoulder with a flat tire on a lowboy flatbed, Louisiana State Police stated in their report from the scene. A mechanic from Walpole Tire Service in Ruston had stopped behind Francis and advised him to limp to the service center.
“He advised that a new rim was needed for the trailer, and they (Walpole mechanic and driver) were going to ‘limp’ the truck and trailer back to Walpole,†Cpl. Justin Brown stated in the crash report.
As Francis was merging back onto I-20 at a speed of less than 30 mph, Sifford was changing from the left lane to the right lane at 70 mph in the FedEx truck, a 2004 Mack pulling two box trailers.
The FedEx truck hit the rear of the flatbed, causing a fuel tank on the FedEx truck to puncture. The truck became engulfed in flames.
Police said Sifford was trapped in the vehicle and died at the scene. Palmer, who was in the sleeper at the time of the crash, got out of the wreckage but was badly burned. He later died of his injuries.
Francis’ injuries were minor.
Police stated that Francis was in violation of hours-of-service regulations. He was issued a total of four citations for logbook violations. No other charges had been filed as of Oct. 16.
Both of the deceased drivers, Sifford, 41, and Palmer, 38, are survived by their wives and children.
Frederica Palmer, quoted in the hometown Martinsville Bulletin newspaper, wants people to remember her husband as a man who worked hard to provide for his family.
America’s Road Team officials said Sifford was a third-generation trucker who often said safety was a way of life on the road.
“Tony was a Trucker Buddy, an assistant Scout master and a Rescue Squad member. He had a wonderful sense of humor and never met someone who wasn’t a friend,†Road Team officials stated in an online posting.
A memorial fund has been established for Sifford’s three children.
The Tony D. Sifford Memorial Fund
Grayson National Bank
PO Box 1177
Hillsville, VA 24343
276-728-2810