Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: Running Odometer on September 06, 2020, 08:21:31 pm

Title: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Running Odometer on September 06, 2020, 08:21:31 pm
I was watching YouTube. Saw this guy posted this incident.

I can not believe it. Foretravel don't build light RV. Can't believe a Fortravel was blown away 150 yard.

On the other hand, this guy was really active recently in posting RV related videos.

So any of you heard this accident?
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on September 06, 2020, 08:28:01 pm
150 yards
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: DayDreamer on September 06, 2020, 08:33:13 pm
News Clip (https://www.mykxlg.com/news/local/73-year-old-gettysburg-man-identified-as-the-driver-killed-when-tornado-hits-rv-pulling/article_84f0b8d4-eba7-11ea-9941-fb7a218a1a3e.html) of the event.  Pretty tragic.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Chuck Pearson on September 06, 2020, 08:35:03 pm
Sure, why not.  Driving into my home town of Port Aransas after hurricane harvey, hundreds of overturned, blown around motorhomes and RV's.  Pioneer RV, lots of class A coaches....wiped out 100%.  This doesn't even begin to compare to the power of a tornado. 

Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Running Odometer on September 06, 2020, 09:05:23 pm
The RV and trailer combined weight probably more than 60000 pounds.

Wow! Just unbelievable force!
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Sven and Kristi on September 06, 2020, 09:07:50 pm
UPDATED: Paul Nelson, Gettysburg, killed by tornado north of Miller | Local... (https://www.capjournal.com/news/updated-paul-nelson-gettysburg-killed-by-tornado-north-of-miller/article_de7e9c9a-ebe8-11ea-9d9c-0712a1cca1f9.html)
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Running Odometer on September 06, 2020, 09:20:21 pm
https://youtu.be/63iOeQ8A0eA

This video was likely the one involved in the RV accident. It captures the whole event. 0:42"

The coach was torn in pieces in seconds.


Every one please drive safe!
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Sven and Kristi on September 06, 2020, 09:34:19 pm
Something like this reminds us of how trivial our issues with puck lights, commodes, etc. are.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: master2301 on September 06, 2020, 09:54:16 pm
No, ... I disagree. The man was doing exactly what he loved and probably cherish every hour in his Foretravel including fixing the puck lights.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: kb0zke on September 06, 2020, 10:06:10 pm
Winds on I-80 here in Wyoming can be quite strong. Our daughter calls the 18-wheelers on their sides "sleeping semis." A tornado has winds far stronger than regular wind - 300 mph or so. That's a LOT of force.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on September 06, 2020, 10:36:58 pm
A big tornado would take a Foretravel or anything else up to OZ. I remember the video of the helicopter caught in one.

Pierce
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Olde English on September 06, 2020, 10:54:23 pm
We drove around one years ago on the way to grandmas house in Gelsburg Michigan, I saw it coming and hammered the loud pedal in my father-in-laws 76 cutlass.
Any damage to my car ?
No Bob not a mark.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Running Odometer on September 06, 2020, 11:36:56 pm
From the post Sven posted, it seems like the coach was torn completely into pieces. How can this be possible? Doesn't Foretravel have steal frame?
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: master2301 on September 07, 2020, 12:17:13 am
Did you ever see what a tornado does to Semi-trucks and train cars loaded? Google it, far to many to post here.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Johnstons on September 07, 2020, 09:35:26 am
We live in tornado alley in Oklahoma.  I've seen tornados wrap a dump truck around a tree, pull cement slabs out of the ground, and carry items hundreds of miles to where they are finally deposited.  This one wasn't that strong according to the weather reports, but we've also learned to not put a lot of stock in the radar estimates of velocity.  As an insurance agent, after one tornado I was out to check on customers and came across a house where the walls were all gone the furniture was gone and pretty much only the slab was left.  In the center of the slab was a tall book shelf still standing with some basketball trophies untouched on the top.  Tornados are strange creatures.  I've been in wind in Oklahoma in our 42' tag U320 and slowed to 25 MPH because it was blowing so hard I was afraid to go any faster.  I was also afraid to stop by the road because of the driving rain and limited visibility.  Of course we don't know whether he was buckled in or what might have come in through a window or came forward from the back.  I've seen fatalities from very minor accidents.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Dub on September 07, 2020, 11:52:18 am
The man filming wasn't thinking or he would have done an about face when he first saw it in the road. You hate that someone was killed, twisters leave things that you hate in their path.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: bigdog on September 07, 2020, 11:59:50 am
And that's why we moved from severe weather 12 months a year South Dakota to a very much lacking in severe weather Walla Walla.

Sometimes, as that guy filming the Tornado tearing apart that Foretravel shows. Folks (including Mr Nelson RIP) get way to complacent. No way Mr. Nelson didn't see it and simply drove right into it. As did the guy taking the video. The creepy thing I noticed was the fact that the guy taking the video watched a coach get torn up and he just casually continued to video after the tornado passed and showed no interest in going to help Mr. Nelson.
 
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: dsd on September 07, 2020, 01:32:24 pm
Sometimes, as that guy filming the Tornado tearing apart that Foretravel shows. Folks (including Mr Nelson RIP) get way to complacent. No way Mr. Nelson didn't see it and simply drove right into it. As did the guy taking the video. The creepy thing I noticed was the fact that the guy taking the video watched a coach get torn up and he just casually continued to video after the tornado passed and showed no interest in going to help Mr. Nelson.
 
And these peaple reproduce.
Daytime event such as this could of been handled differently,  I think. A shame from every angle.
Scott
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: bigdog on September 07, 2020, 02:24:10 pm
And these peaple reproduce.
Daytime event such as this could of been handled differently,  I think. A shame from every angle.
Scott
I'm of two minds about this. Videos of these Tornado's are of scientific use and if one does risk themselves to get said video. Well, That is the freedom of choice that we libertarian minded folks support. But that changes the moment you see someone else possibly being hurt from that storm. Then you "should" stop recording, wait till it's safe then go and effect a rescue.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Michelle on September 07, 2020, 02:30:15 pm
Discussion has veered well off the subject of Foretravels and RVing, which are the focus of this forum, so it is now locked.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: John S on September 18, 2020, 07:34:14 am
I was saddened to read this.

73 Year-Old Gettysburg man Identified as the Driver Killed when Tornado Hits... (https://www.mykxlg.com/news/local/73-year-old-gettysburg-man-identified-as-the-driver-killed-when-tornado-hits-rv-pulling/article_84f0b8d4-eba7-11ea-9941-fb7a218a1a3e.html?fbclid=IwAR2otBpEAO3NcnxHa3YXA-bhYvMJKZB0KWznbzUI81VlQzJXwMDUkFnKlpc)
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Old Toolmaker on September 18, 2020, 09:07:33 am
The line "The R-V came to rest on its roof some 150 to 200 yards west of the highway in a nearby corn field." makes me wonder if a proper harness would have prevented the driver's demise.
Our condolences for his family's loss.

Art & Lynn
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on September 18, 2020, 09:31:03 am
May not have had even his seat belt on. Harnesses sure help unless the cab gets crushed.

Pierce
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Old Toolmaker on September 18, 2020, 09:48:42 am
May not have had even his seat belt on. Harnesses sure help unless the cab gets crushed.

Pierce
Ever since I ricocheted by head off the ceiling of my TriPacer running low and fast into Keene Dillant-Hopkins Airport (EEN) on a gusty day,  I keep any lap belt fastened securely, even the Siata.

Besides the news report didn't say that the roof crushed.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on September 18, 2020, 10:08:15 am
Ever since I ricocheted by head off the ceiling of my TriPacer running low and fast into Keene Dillant-Hopkins Airport (EEN) on a gusty day,  I keep any lap belt fastened securely, even the Siata.

Besides the news report didn't say that the roof crushed.
PA-22, 135hp, 3300B

Pierce
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: warbirdlvr on September 18, 2020, 10:57:32 am
Pierce,

My first airplane was a PA22  150 1957 model. Ye old flying milk stool! 8 airplanes later and 32000 (yes, thats right) hours PIC later, I have been in several situations where even with the seat belt very tight still hit my head on the headliner. BUT, w/o the belt, life could have been short......
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Olde English on September 18, 2020, 11:36:07 am
I never bothered with seat belts for years, so one day I'm operating a Cat 955 track loader, my fault that I over centered then nose dived with such force that I punched out the windshield with my head. That made my head and neck ache for days, picked up the seat belt habit from then on.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Old Toolmaker on September 18, 2020, 11:40:42 am
Pierce,

My first airplane was a PA22  150 1957 model. Ye old flying milk stool! 8 airplanes later and 32000 (yes, thats right) hours PIC later, I have been in several situations where even with the seat belt very tight still hit my head on the headliner. BUT, w/o the belt, life could have been short......
PA-22-160 N8772D #5959

I was young, invincible and nearly lost consciousness.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Protech Racing on September 18, 2020, 11:56:10 am
 I'm designing my second Ultralight plane now.  Demoiselle with 30 HP .  Cancer gifted me with 5 months or nothing to do except design stuff.
 I hope to purchase the spars next week.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: craneman on September 18, 2020, 12:04:31 pm
I was the exception to the rule. If I had a seatbelt on I would not be here now. A K rail came through the drivers windshield while I was on the passenger side floor after flipping.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: John44 on September 18, 2020, 12:44:41 pm
More info on the title post on Facebook.
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: sfbmwwife on September 18, 2020, 03:22:06 pm
I was the exception to the rule. If I had a seatbelt on I would not be here now. A K rail came through the drivers windshield while I was on the passenger side floor after flipping.
Yikes!
Title: Re: FT owner killed when a tornado hits his rig on the road
Post by: Michelle on September 18, 2020, 05:09:03 pm
[merged duplicate topics]