Semi rolls over on Perma Bends
A full load of untreated wood chips push over the fence off the roadside as well as burying road signs as it rests on the corner (Erin Jusseaume/Clark Fork Valley Press)
Soft edges aided in the top heavy trailer tipping over and sliding into the corner at the start of the Perma bends headed west on Highway 200 (Erin Jusseaume/Clark Fork Valley Press)
The dog connection that connects the trailer to the truck snapped clean off as the trailer tipped over the on the corner (Clark Fork Valley Press)
Last Wednesday afternoon, a semi traveling west on Highway 200 rolled over causing congestion at the Perma Bends for more than four hours.
The driver of the truck was hauling a single trailer loaded with wood chips, when a back trailer tie glided over the white line causing the load to hit a soft shoulder.
“I tried to bring the trailer and truck back onto the road. I got the truck back, but the trailer was too top heavy and it just went over,” explained James Dean West the driver of the truck.
West said that he had slowed down to approximately 4o miles pre hour as he began to drive through the notorious bends, when the soft shoulders of the road gave away.
“I’m a little shaken up, I have driven this road for at least two years and know how tight the bends are,” he explained.
“I thought that I might get it back on the road, but the trailer being top heavy just wouldn’t come back over. The dog link snapped right off from the weight,” he said.
The accident happened between mile markers 89 and 90, where the bend curves with a narrow road, there is an approximate 45 degree incline drop on the side.
Montana Highway Patrol, Plains ambulance, Plains Paradise Rural Fire and local Department of Transport crews as well as Sanders County Sheriff’s Office were all on scene.
The single vehicle accident had no injuries to the driver, or any others. MHP Trooper Steve Spurr said the the driver would be receiving a ticket for careless driving from the accident.
Although the West was not texting or driving distracted Spurr said drivers, need to ensure they are driving alert and slow down when coming into the bends.
“Semi drivers in particular need to take it easy and drive cautiously, the road is narrow with soft shoulders. It’s worth going a little slower to ensure you have better control over your truck and trailer,” he urged.
The accident resulted in a fence being taken out, as well as a chunk taken out of the highway which required fixing by road crews.
Both law enforcement and fire crews expressed relief that the accident didn’t happen further up the rad which would have seen the trailer in the river.
The scenes was finally cleared at 4:59pm that afternoon once the trailer was able to be removed by the on call towing company.