What went wrong?

Investigators with the North Carolina Highway Patrol have not been able to determine the exact cause of the accident that led to the death of a W.C. English Co. construction worker in northern Caldwell County.

Tracy White, 36, of Lenoir, was killed Tuesday when the dump truck she was driving for the W.C. English Co. about a mile past the Mountain Stop convenience store ran over her as she leaped from it shortly after 3 p.m. The truck lost control as she was dumping material for the U.S. 321 widening project on a slight decline on the western side of the highway.

After the truck struck White, it careened approximately 300 feet down a steep embankment before coming to a stop. The mangled vehicle, which was legal for highway use, was pulled up the mountainside later Tuesday evening. Witnesses at the scene told investigators with the N.C. Highway Patrol during preliminary interviews that it appeared the brakes went out on the truck.

The investigation of the accident is

being conducted by the Motor Carrier Division of the N.C. Highway Patrol, which is standard protocol when commercial vehicle accidents involve serious personal injuries or fatalities.

Trooper T.A. Rathbone said the damage to the truck was so severe that investigators could not determine if the brakes failed or not.

Rathbone said the brake chambers were broken, probably from the impact of the crash. Because of that, air could not be put inside the chambers to test them.

Jerry Lawrence, risk manager for the W.C. English Co., said Wednesday that officials were assessing the situation, adding that safety is a key element in English's work practices. Tuesday's fatality was the company's first in approximately 25 years.

"We currently have a full-scale investigation going on to find out exactly what happened," Lawrence said. "We take safety very seriously. That's how we want to operate and do business, but sometimes things happen."

Lawrence said English had just received a good report about its safety and work practices on the 321 widening project last year from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

He also indicated that the company is trying to be supportive of the family in a sad situation.

"The management of W.C. English Co. really regrets that this accident occurred," Lawrence said. "We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family."

On Tuesday, Henry McDaniel, general superintendent of the project for English, said operation throughout the construction zone was halted and workers sent home when the accident happened.

"I've been in this business for 40-some years, and this is the first time anything like this has ever happened on my job," McDaniel said. "Dealing with this is not easy. This is a very difficult situation."

Work for English crews was optional Wednesday.

North Carolina Department of Transportation Division Engineer Mike Pettyjohn, out of the Highway Division 11 office in North Wilkesboro, said the NCDOT will conduct an internal investigation about the accident once it has received information from the N.C. Highway Patrol investigation.

"We'll take all the information we get and review it," Pettyjohn said. "Anytime we have an accident involving a (DOT) employee or a contractor's employee, we do an investigation. Once we get our findings, we'll send out a safety alert (to all DOT offices) to try and prevent this from happening in the future if there is any way possible."

Pettyjohn said the NCDOT stresses safety with all its projects as does the W.C. English Co.

"English has shown a good safety record," he said. "It's just terrible anytime you have an accident like this."

While the NCHP investigation has not revealed an exact cause for the accident, Rathbone said it has not been closed.

Printer Friendly Version

E-mail this story to friend