Date: Fri 17-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Amoco-tractor-trailer

Full Text:

wiuth cut: Tractor Trailer Trainee Learns The Hard Way

A trainee driving an 18-wheel tractor trailer truck found out the hard way

about judging the size of his truck and available space last Saturday night

when he tried to maneuver the truck he was driving around the gas pumps at the

Amoco gas station on Church Hill Road around 6:30 pm January 11. Trainee Jesse

James McQueen, of Wagram, N.C., was driving the truck, owned by USA Truck,

Inc., of Peoria, Ill. He and his partner/trainer, Duane Richmond, of Augusta,

Ga., were heading to Massachusetts to pick up a delivery.

When McQueen attempted to drive the large truck around the station's pumps,

the rear wheels rolled onto the island of Pump No. 3, inches away from the gas

pump itself, and onto the pipe barrier on the end of the island. The back of

the truck was suddenly elevated and wedged into the station's overhang.

McQueen said he never felt the truck going up onto the island.

Newtown Hook & Ladder responded to the call from station attendant Kimberly

Duerr, who also turned off power to the pumps at the instruction of Newtown

police officers on the scene.

A wrecker from Hilario's responded to the call as well, and after a few pounds

of air were released from the truck's rear tires, the wrecker was able to pull

the truck off the barrier. No one was injured, and damage to the station's

overhang was minimal. No enforcement action was taken, police said.