Driving - Loss of Control - Vehicle

An LEB related to Driving - Loss of Control  - Vehicle.

What Happened?

A worker attempted to drive a Heavy Vehicle (HV) service truck across a rural concrete creek crossing. The creek crossing had about 350-400mm of water passing over it following recent rainfall further upstream. When attempting to cross the creek at about 7km/h, the driver misjudged the vehicle’s alignment on the downstream side of the crossing.

This caused the passenger side front tyre to leave the causeway, before coming to rest below the causeway’s edge. The position of the tyre rendered the vehicle unable to be manoeuvred out as it was heavily leaning to the left side. The driver initiated the emergency process via the duress button and UHF radio, then shut down the engine, exited the vehicle via the driver’s door and crossed through the water to meet colleagues who were on the way to render assistance.

Due to the vehicle’s position and rising creek levels, the vehicle was recovered during the following shift once the river levels were deemed safe. Nobody was injured.

The vehicle was significantly damaged by water when the river levels increased.