Since none of us (I don't think) has a personal relationship with the tragedy, we can look at it objectively. My apologies if this is not so.

The thing I immediately thought of when I saw this was over-the-limit towing.

So irregardless of whether the towing limit was exceeded or not, at least this tragedy should be a sober reminder that bad things can happen if you tow near, at, or beyond the safe limit of your vehicle.

At the very least, it doesn't give you any margin of safety should you have to make an emergency manouver.

You guys that tow, be safe out there.

29 foot boat on a triple axle trailer plus another trailer with a couple jet skis on the back. Plus 7 passengers in the vehicle and three dogs - plus stuff - probably lots of it.

Steel trailer - probably 2500 lbs. Boat - probably 7000 lbs. Jet skis 700 each plus trailer - 2,000 lbs. 7 passengers 1200 lbs. 3 dogs 150 lbs. 7 passengers' stuff 400 lbs. 3/4 Burb 6,500 lbs - 30 gallons gas 180 lbs.

Let's see, that's right at 20,000 lbs going down the road. 11,500 of it towed - on two trailers.

Probably overloaded by about 50% - Which I would bet the Burb normally would handle just fine on a single trailer, but I bet the guy was driving fast - hence 600 feet to crash - and the double trailer idea was just stupid.

Why didn't he put someone in a small car with a hitch to tow the Jet skis?

BTW - that boat was a cruiser with what looks like twin engines - my guess of 7000 lbs could be 4000 lbs low.

Did anyone notice he was one of our search & rescue guys? That hobby exists almost exclusively because of 'errors in judgement'. I'm guilty of driving overloaded, but he had to be going pretty fast.

On that same stretch of road about 10 years ago we were coming home from Powell, pulling the Searay with our old Cruise Air, and a small SUV that had passed us shortly before went out of control and rolled over. We came upon the crash about 2 minutes after it happened. Don't know why he lost control, and the people who watched it happen didn't know why either, they said it swerved, swerved back and rolled over, ended up on the side of the road. The engine was on fire when we got there, but eventutally the thing burned to the ground. Everything, including the guys wife, was strewn all over the highway. I shot some video of that ordeal. We heard later the guys wife died. Bad stretch of 2-lane...

I think the guy was just trying to have "too much fun" and his luck ran out. From the picture, he looks like a guy that goes all out all the time...

There had to be a little voice in the back of his head saying - this feels a bit dangerous.

The problem is, until you get bitten, you don't know exactly when to listen to that voice and do something else, and when to push on and have fun. And all of us have different thresholds - doing an Ironman triathalon would kill me, but some people do them successfully. We all have to learn our limits. Lucky for me, none of my learnings have been tragic - but I've made my share of mistakes.

Indy's assessment is pretty much what I have been thinking.

... And though it's a sad outcome, and I feel bad for the innocent people who have died, I've also been thinking
- I'm glad one more selfish and unsafe driver is off the road -

fr - Bad string of accidents hitting too close to home but just coincidence. Change your name with all the pomp and ceremony (and alcohol) required by tradition. Just be careful out there.

Semper Fi 75