FedEx truck removed by crane after rolling down Black Hill

Written by Cami Cox Jim
June 12, 2014
A FedEx truck is removed by crane after rolling down the Black Hill, St. George, Utah, June 12, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – An unmanned FedEx truck was demolished Thursday evening when it rolled down the Black Hill above Bluff Street, landing midway down the hill. Traffic was uninterrupted and there were no injuries, but the vehicle was a total loss and had to be removed by crane.

A FedEx truck is removed by crane after rolling down the Black Ridge, St. George, Utah, June 12, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
A FedEx truck is removed by crane after rolling down the Black Hill, St. George, Utah, June 12, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

FedEx employees were finishing up their shifts for the evening and had parked the vehicle in a storage lot at the FedEx distribution center at Ridge Top Complex when the vehicle either came out of gear or experienced an emergency brake failure, St. George Police Sgt. Jeff Bahlmann said.

“The emergency brake either may have disengaged or failed, if they had set the emergency brake,” Bahlmann said.

There were no passengers and no apparent cargo in the vehicle, he said.

“No injuries. Nobody was in the vehicle,” Bahlmann said, “just the damage to the property.”

After rolling down the hillside, the truck landed on jagged rocks below and was halted in its path.

FedEx had a crane brought in to remove the vehicle from the hillside.

St. George News Assistant Editor Mori Kessler contributed to this report.

Ed. Note: The name of the area has been corrected.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cami Cox Jim got her start in journalism way back in third grade, when she published a crayon-and-pencil classroom newspaper in Mrs. Gifford’s class. She’s been a professional journalist (the kind that gets paid) since 2005. Cami and her husband don’t have any “real” children yet, so for now Cami takes in stray animals, unofficially adopts other people’s kids and maintains high hopes for her own children (of the two-legged variety) to come along in the future.

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16 Comments

  • Dan Lester June 12, 2014 at 10:21 pm

    Or someone forgot to set the emergency brake……

  • Bender June 12, 2014 at 10:54 pm

    When it absolutely positively has to be destroyed overnight.

    • Roy J June 13, 2014 at 3:46 pm

      HAHA! Bender, you make me laugh!

  • Glock June 12, 2014 at 11:49 pm

    This is clearly a lack of commitment and responsibility by the Obama Administration. Had there been proper regulations in place, and safeguards implemented this entire situation could have been averted. This is another unfortunate example of when a government fails its people. Two actions are needed. First, a “We The People” petition started and second a full investigation into possible corruption and negligence.
    Oh, and I really really wish I could have been there to watch. Would have been sweet to see that baby tumble down the hill!

    • Craig June 13, 2014 at 6:04 am

      Glock, we all know it is the fault of George W. Bush. And if it isn’t his fault, Barry Soetoro will find a way to blame him.

    • Rachel June 13, 2014 at 9:44 am

      …What?… I mean… how?… What?… Did we just read the same article? Surely you cannot be suggesting that the already excessive regulations on commercial drivers are not enough… I would recommend reading the DOT regulations specifically in regards to pre-trip and post-trip inspections before you make ignorant comments like you have, Glock.

      • Really?? June 15, 2014 at 1:03 pm

        Rachel, I believe what Glock is doing is called sarcasm.

        • Rachel June 17, 2014 at 1:04 pm

          Lol! I guess the sarcasm got lost in internet translation.

  • SSfreeze June 13, 2014 at 6:33 am

    This is the fault of George Bush

  • Someone June 13, 2014 at 6:37 am

    No one forgot to do anything! It was the emergency break failing. Do not make assumptions when you have no knowledge of the actual situation.

  • EL JEFE June 13, 2014 at 7:07 am

    Switching to Geico can save FedEx a ton of money……

  • AnnaNik June 13, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    Thanks, Obama

  • Darth Dude June 13, 2014 at 3:48 pm

    This happened because why? because the chicken crossed the road and its bush’s fault and you are a racist.

  • Harold June 13, 2014 at 10:11 pm

    Don’t you have to set the emergency brake first before it can fail. The story suggests that the emergency brake was not set and surely the investigators should be able to determine if it was set or not.

  • Mountainman June 13, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    Since when does a semi truck have an emergency brake?? I’ve been an OTR for 16 years and I have yet to see an emergency brake. How about setting the air brake?

    • FedEx driver June 14, 2014 at 8:42 pm

      that’s a stepvan, not a big rig or straight truck… so no air brakes for that vehicle

      parking brake handle/ pedal to the left of the steering wheel, by the sliding pocket door & usually operates the brake shoes w/in the drum that’s wedged between the transmission & the driveshaft. either that or they have integrated drum parking brake shoes in the rear braking system for 4-wheel disc systems

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