Quarry Vehicle Accident In Spain
Location:
The Torrente Quarry (Spain), operated by Readymix Asland.
Details:
On February 9th at 8:30pm, a 46-tonne Komatsu dump truck carrying material from the quarry to the plant went over a cliff and fell 15 metres below. The driver was ejected through the windshield and died instantly. The road was in good condition, of sufficient width, and had all the required safety equipment.
The first signs of impact against the barrier blocks protecting the side of the road were detected 90 metres uphill from where the fall occurred. For reasons which remain unknown, the dump truck continued downhill for several dozen metres after the initial collision with the protective barrier and crashed to the bottom, pulling down a number of barrier blocks with it. The truck fell without turning over, as seen in the photo below.
According to investigators, the driver was not wearing his seatbelt.
The cab was not seriously damaged, since it was not directly affected by the impact. Even fragile elements such as the door window and the foot step were found intact. Only the windshield was broken; its remnants were found next to the victim.
Conclusion:
Seatbelt use was not compulsory at the site. Considering the condition of the dump truck and its cab, however, one cannot help but wonder whether the outcome of the accident would have been different had the victim been wearing his seat belt.
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