Tragic, yet avoidable accident.
- Thread starter jymbee
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Ray-IN
Well-known member
Riding in a trailer is illegal in New York and some other states.
reference: Which States Allow Passengers to Travel in Campers?
Whomever allowed her to ride in the trailer will live with that decision for the rest of their life.
reference: Which States Allow Passengers to Travel in Campers?
Whomever allowed her to ride in the trailer will live with that decision for the rest of their life.
John From Detroit
Well-known member
You beat me to it. This story is one of the reasons why.
Tulecreeper
Well-known member
Yes, they will have to live with this horrible accident. But the article says a woman fell out, not a child, so the onus is on the adult taking the chance and riding in the trailer.
tlmgcamp
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Local news says she was a doctor traveling to a spot to watch the eclipse. It says the wind caused the door to open. Don't all rv have the hinge on the leading edge so the wind pushes the door closed during travel? There were 3 people in the trailer so I guess stupid runs in the family
Joezeppy
Well-known member
I believe Airstream doors open rearward. I've never understood why.
Ray-IN
Well-known member
By jove you're right, left-hand doors.
tlmgcamp
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I suspect a design change once the lawyers get done.
Excalibur
Well-known member
Sad to say, but this is Darwin at work.
Ray-IN
Well-known member
In Indiana the driver of a vehicle is responsible for all occupants. For instance if someone in the back seat is not wearing their seat belt and is caught, the driver gets the ticket.
A person can ride in a 5er or truck camper in Indiana, IF there is 2-way communications,but not in a bumper hitch trailer.
I suspect this was a case of not enough seats in the tow vehicle.
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Skookum
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We always travel with the deadbolt latched along with the handle in the lock position (motorhome). Too many times going down the road have seen where the body flexes enough to allow the handle latch to open to the first click and then you can see daylight through the edges of the door. Our Newmar doesn't have that problem because the chassis is so rigid but we still keep it locked anyway and pets aren't allowed near the door while the rig is in motion!
RV's in general are built like junk...gotta watch out for this stuff. That's a really sad story.
RV's in general are built like junk...gotta watch out for this stuff. That's a really sad story.
Rene T
Site Team
You can see that in the picture.
Doors were like that in cars at one time. They called them suicide doors. Remember?????
John From Detroit
Well-known member
Yup the door hinge is to the rear of the handle.
Kirk
Well-known member
If you look at the travel trailers on most lots you will see that which way the door is hinged depends on the floorplan of the RV, much as is the case for a stick house. The majority of trailers are hinged to be pushed closed when traveling, but there are a few exceptions.
In looking at the current Airstream website, the smaller ones seem to be hinged the same as this one, but the larger Airstream trailers are not and I'd bet the reason is floorplan. The designers probably assume that the owners will not be riding in their trailers?
tlmgcamp
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But even without a rider in the trailer, if the door is not latched properly and swings open at highway speed something is going to be damaged
Excalibur
Well-known member
Do we know for sure it was an Airstream? Or was that just a stock photo of a camper and pickup?
darsben
Well-known member
The uncropped cell phone picture is attributed to the NYS. Police. Uncropped picture at Eclipse traveler dies after falling out of moving trailer in upstate New York
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Gizmo
Well-known member
A sad story hate to see someone loose there life, but this was certainly avoidable.
Rene T
Site Team
I wonder if they had any type of communication between her and the driver. If not, maybe she wanted to get his attention, started opening the door and it pulled her right out of the trailer
Ray-IN
Well-known member
Quite plausible.
