During the rollover, the trailer became detached from its frame.
Truck/Travel Trailer Rollover on US-59, LIVINGSTON, September 6, 2009 - At approximately 6 pm on September 6, 2009, a gold 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Lew Davis Lane, 27, of Cleveland, was north-bound on US-59. According to Lane, as he was approaching the underpass of Business 59 in Livingston, his Prowler travel trailer began to whip. Lane said that when he felt it starting to whip, initially he took his foot off of the gas, then he said it got worse, so he sped up in an effort to pull out of it, but it continuously got worse until his vehicle spun out of control and the entire rig turned sideways and rolled. Lane was with his wife and 4 small children and a dog in the truck. The truck and trailer came to rest on their sides in the grass on the right side of 59 North directly in front of the Hampton Inn near Baskin's Clothing Store. Amazingly, Lane and all members of his family were okay (including the dog). Sergeant Rob Thomas with the Polk County Sheriff's Office was the first emergency responder on the scene. Additionally, Officer Kevin Ward with the Livingston Police Department was dispatched to the scene and was joined a short time later by Sergeant Ronnie Bogany (also with LPD). One lane of traffic on 59 was blocked as the accident was being investigated and cleared. Two Rollback Wreckers for J&J Wrecker Service out of Cleveland arrived to clean up the mess. The truck was recovered fairly easily, however the trailer had come separated from its frame and was in danger of falling to pieces right where it was laying. The crew from J&J showed their experience as the two wreckers teamed up and slowly but carefully recovered the totaled travel trailer. The men threw heavy duty nylon straps over the trailer to hold it to its frame as they turned the trailer upright. Then they carefully pulled the trailer up onto a rollback wrecker and securely fastened down. Sergeant Bogany gave the truck clearance to drive up the exit ramp where the wrecker made a right turn on Pan American Drive that led directly to 59 South headed for Cleveland. Lane did have insurance. The scene was cleared by 8 pm.
Sergeant Ronnie Bogany (left) and Officer Kevin Ward with the Livingston Police Department.
Tire marks show the path of truck and travel trailer.
When they tried to turn the trailer upright, it became more separated from its frame.
The wrecker crew from J&J used heavy duty nylon straps to get hold the travel trailer together.
The wrecker exited from the entrance ramp as police had the road blocked off from regular traffic. The truck then made a right on Pan American and headed straight for US-59 South.
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