A Tennessee trucker died July 2 when his 2000 Volvo tractor trailer went out of control on Interstate 40 in Cocke County. According to Trooper Mike Holt, witnesses said the truck was traveling in the left lane and suddenly took a hard left. "We don't know why," Holt said.

Steve Tidwell, 52, Bon Aqua, Tennessee, died while being transported by medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Trooper Holt said Tidwell's rig left the westbound lanes, crossed the grass median, went over both eastbound lanes, crashed through the guardrails and then plunged down a steep, 25-foot embankment. The crash occurred at 6:20 p.m., said police.

Troopers arrived at the accident scene shortly after it happened. Holt said the truck looked as though it burst into flames on impact. "The driver was not burned," he said. "They got him out without being burned, but it looked like he was in bad shape."

Two passing truckers stopped, scrambled down the brushy embankment and pulled the victim, who had massive head injuries, from the cab of his burning truck.

Holt said Tidwell hadn't hit any debris in the roadway. "Witnesses said the truck was in the left lane and suddenly took a hard left," Holt said.

Members of the Newport Rescue Squad and Cocke County firemen, combined their efforts to bring the injured trucker up the weed and briar covered embankment to a waiting medical helicopter. Captain Newell Byrd of the rescue squad told Land Line that his job was not to evaluate the scene for causation, but noted "there were 'bad' skid marks on the west and eastbound lanes as though the truck slid sideways."

The truck was co-owned by Steve Tidwell and his brother, Tom Tidwell. Tom Tidwell told Land Line that he had inspected the truck and contents of the cab after the crash. He said he had seen his brother's logbook and reported it was up to date. Tidwell also noted that the truck's speedometer appeared to be frozen at 65 mph.

Trooper Holt said if Tidwell experienced a medical problem, the only way to confirm that as a contributing factor, would be to perform an autopsy. Tidwell's son, Wayne, told Land Line that his father had no medical problems. "And he always stayed overnight in South Carolina when he made that particular run so he would be rested," said Wayne Tidwell.

According to the Morristown Citizen Tribune, the interstate was crowded with July Fourth holiday travelers, but no other vehicle were struck as the rig careened across the eastbound lanes.

Dorgan says he'll pick up in Senate where House left off to bar unsafe Mexican trucks

U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) says he intends to attach an amendment to the Department of Transportation Appropriations bill, that contains legislative language identical to an amendment approved last month by the U.S. House that bars Mexican trucks from entering the U.S. and hauling freight any further than the 20 miles now allowed.

If the Senate approves the amendment, which Dorgan said he expects it will, the action would make it highly unlikely that anyone would be able to remove the prohibition in a conference committee since legislative rules say identical language in House and Senate versions of bills cannot be altered by a conference committee.

"We have a real opportunity to decide this issue and close the book on it," Dorgan said. "I intend to do all I can to see that we do."

In May, Dorgan and Senator Harry Reid (D-ND) introduced legislation to bar Mexican transport trucks from entering the United States, until their safety can be assured. They cited the high rate at which both trucks and drivers from Mexico fail to meet U.S. safety standards and the fact that even the U.S. Transportation Department admits it lacks facilities, equipment and personnel to assure the safety of Mexican trucks operating in the United States. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN) adopted by the House on June 26 flat out bars the trucks from operating here beyond the 20 mile zone, by blocking the use of any tax dollars to issue safety permits required for truck operations in the United States.

The Clinton administration barred Mexican trucks from operating beyond 20 miles into the United States because of safety concerns. The Bush administration wants to drop the limit on how far Mexican trucks can travel into the U.S. and allow them to freely transport freight throughout the nation.

"Only about one percent of Mexican trucks entering the U.S. are inspected by the U.S. at the border, but 36 percent of those that are inspected are turned back for serious safety violations," Dorgan said.

"Mexico does not have the same safety standards as the U.S. for either vehicles, equipment, or drivers," Dorgan said, "and the failure rate at safety inspection stations along the border is alarming. The legislation I introduced originally is a good way to protect Americans, but the approach taken by the House works just as well. I intend to offer it in the Senate. If we win that vote, as I think we will, those who want to let unsafe trucks and drivers from Mexico operate in our country will find it very difficult to use legislative maneuvers in a House-Senate conference committee, to undo what the House has done."

The Senate appropriations measure is now working its way through the committee process. OOIDA is urging truckers to contact committee members and urge them to express their support. For a list of committee members and phone numbers, CLICK HERE.