Driver air-lifted after tractor-trailer rollover

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Lynn A. Wade/Daily Mail

A one-vehicle crash that took place at about 6 p.m., Monday, sent the driver of an overturned tractor-trailer to Freeman hospital, Joplin, via air ambulance, after area firefighters quickly extricated him from the wreckage.

It happened along northbound U.S. 71 Highway, a mile south of Compton Junction. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Gary V. Curtis, 76, of Sydney, Neb., was driving a 2005 Western Star tractor, northbound, on U.S. 71, when the vehicle went off the right side of the roadway and overturned, breaking the trailer open and spilling some of its contents in the area to the east of the roadway.

Curtis' injuries are listed as moderate.

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Why would someone 76 years old be driving a semi? And I am an old man myself so not being judgemental.

-- Posted by TerryB on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 9:04 PM
well that man happens to be my grandfather and has been driving a semi since he was 18 so I think he has an idea of what he's doing no matter what his age is.

-- Posted by amd9126 on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 10:43 PM
also someone cut him off and ran him off the road so it had nothing to do with his driving. please dont comment about it anymore

-- Posted by amd9126 on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 10:45 PM
After reading the the article and the first comment I just had to add my two cents. There is nothing about how or why the driver(who has Never been from Sidney,NE-correct spelling) had this wreck or how he did not hurt anyone else. There is nothing about the fact that he is been Driving a SEMI sence he was 18 and has been in only 2 major accidents in all that time. There are many Drivers today that are still actively working over the age of 62. Just because a person has past 62 doesn't mean they are done in life. Mr. Curtis is Prof. Driver with over 10 million miles to his name who just past all of his test for driving a Semi, there are not to many people in the world that can say that.

-- Posted by Dispatcher on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 8:08 AM
amd9126, I will comment anytime I want.

-- Posted by TerryB on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 10:19 AM
My father is still driving a truck so that he can help my brother pay his medical bills. My brother recently had his left leg amputated so therefore is not able to work and has no insurance. Social security isn't sure that losing a leg makes you disabled so he may not get any assistance. We havn't even seen the hospital bills and have already passed $65,000, so that is why my dad is still driving a truck. Instead of judging we should all be glad when a fellow human being wasn't killed in an abviously horrible wreck!

-- Posted by #1Daughter on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 1:51 PM
im glad he is ok now as for driving at 76 its because he's golden years have been taken away from him like so many others

-- Posted by Spans only warning on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 7:47 PM
I hope your father improves quickly (as well as your brother). I am thankful for the truckers who sacrifice so much; the trucking industry is a backbone to providing goods and services in our country.

-- Posted by bearcatprof on Fri, May 18, 2012, at 8:26 AM
The man has every right to work. Being productive at any age is a good thing. We live in a society where people don't want to work or just want a pay check. I'm glad this man is willing to work and help his family, and country. Accidents are never good, but I'm sure this man made the best decision he could. If you have never driven a big truck then you should keep your comments to yourself. This is one of the most under appreciated, under rated professions in this country. Thank God no one was killed and our prayers go out to this man and his family.

-- Posted by Criticalthoughts on Tue, May 22, 2012, at 2:51 PM

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