[Eternally Solo]

Tucson AZ | February 14, 2023

The driver was traveling east on I-10 when the truck drifted off the road and rolled onto its left side after encountering uneven ground.

It was possible fatigue or a medical issue played a role, but noted that records showed the driver was well within the 11-hour limit a commercial vehicle operator can drive without rest.

Officials don’t know if the driver had a medical condition that could have caused the crash but said investigators found no evidence of speed or impairment being factors. Officials added that no other vehicles appeared to have been involved in the crash.

As for potential medical issues, officials say those wouldn’t come to light until the medical examiner had completed its autopsy, which would likely come out within the next three weeks.

A nearby resident found the driver's service dog wandering south from the scene and recovered the dog, which will be returned to the driver’s family.

The nitric acid caused a small fire, which Tucson firefighters quickly extinguished. By Tuesday evening, authorities decided to bring in loads of dirt to cover the hazardous material in the median.
However, “unfavorable weather conditions” led to the nitric acid spawning an additional plume around 3 or 4 a.m., forcing authorities to reissue a shelter-in-place order.

A hazardous materials response team gave an “all clear” around 6 p.m. Wednesday, allowing DPS to end the road closures along with the evacuation and shelter-in-place orders.

Dr. Farshad Shirazi, medical director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, explained that nitric acid can release nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide when exposed to metals, which can be seen as a red plume — pictures of which were shared on social media.

[SavageGlow]

Damn, poor guy.

[ride]

It would have been a bit more dire had it been closer to the city center and during rush hour. Mr. May might have a bit more to contribute, a "man on the street" type thing.

[kellyhound]

Originally Posted by Eternally Solo ↗

records showed the driver was well within the 11-hour limit a commercial vehicle operator can drive without rest.

In the United States, driver fatigue has been responsible for up to 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and nearly 800 fatalities every year.

11 hours is way too long imo. A 6 hour drive without rest would be possibly better.

In EU:

Your staff should not work for more than 6 consecutive hours without a break. If your employees work between 6 and 9 hours, they are entitled to a break of at least 30 minutes. If they work more than 9 hours, they are entitled to a break of at least 45 minutes

After driving period of 4.5 hours, you must ensure that your drivers take an uninterrupted break of at least 45 minutes, unless they take a rest period.

Alternatively, this break can be split into two parts: the first break lasting at least 15 minutes, followed by a second break of at least 30 minutes.

[rohmell]

Originally Posted by Eternally Solo ↗

A nearby resident found the driver's service dog

In order to increase revenue, the state of Arizona is now offering drivers licenses to its blind citizens.

[ride]

Originally Posted by rohmell ↗

In order to increase revenue, the state of Arizona is now offering drivers licenses to its blind citizens.

You may not realize how true that statement is. I could go into detail, but not everyone wants to hear my DMV (actually MVD in Arizona) stories about old people getting their driver's license eye tests.

[Eternally Solo]

Originally Posted by rohmell ↗

In order to increase revenue, the state of Arizona is now offering drivers licenses to its blind citizens.

Now that's funny!

[William May]

That happened about 4 miles from my house. The "Shelter in Place" order was for a 2 mile radius area, then raised to 3 miles. They told everyone to shut off their air conditioning or heat if it took in any outside air. All the schools in the area were closed for 2 days. I-10 was closed and traffic detoured right past my subdivision, off of Houghton Rd.
The thinking now is that high winds made the truck trailer drift, and the driver was trying to keep it upright, until it left the road. He may also have had a heart attack. They aren't sure. But they already got test results saying he was NOT impaired by alcohol or drugs. His little puppy therapy dog made the local papers, was found, and checked by a vet, and will be returned to the driver's wife when she comes down to Tucson from Las Vegas, where he lived. (I think she came down yesterday.)
I think the high winds dispersed most of the vapors, as I didn't hear of anyone having to go to the hospital so far.
I did get the emergency "Shelter in Place" message on my cell phone, but I was outside the range of concern, so no big deal for me.