
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 14, 1990                   TAG: 9005140167
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TENN. TRUCKER TRAPPED IN WRECKAGE FOR HOUR

A Tennessee trucker blew a tire Sunday night on Interstate 81 in Roanoke County, losing control of the truck and crashing down an embankment into a thicket of white pines.

The 305-pound trucker was pinned inside for more than hour before rescuers could pry him out.

Bobby Robbins, 36, a driver with Hart's Transportion of Collierville, Tenn., a suburb of Memphis, was conscious throughout the rescue attempt. He received cuts and bruises over his forearms, but the injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

At least one diesel fuel tank on the tractor-trailer burst, spewing fuel 50-60 yards from the highway to the bottom of the embankment. Floyd Clem, a fellow driver with Hart's who was following Robbins in his own rig, said Robbins was hauling 7,000-15,000 pounds of bedroom furniture to New Jersey. Clem and Robbins left suburban Memphis Saturday morning, stayed overnite in East Tennessee and were headed north on I-81 when the accident happened about 10:30 p.m. between Exits 41 and 42. Clem said Robbins' front right tire blew and the rig jerked to the right. Robbins tried to compensate by turning wheel to the left, hit the guardrail and plunged into the thicket.

"When that tire blew, it goes in the air, Clem said, "the only thing you can do is say `I hope God's with me and hang on.' " Because tractor trailers are steered by the front wheels a blowout in front leaves the driver with no control, Clem said.

Clem could tell by watching the lights on Robbins truck that it stayed upright until it hit bottom of the gulch. "He brought it in there right," Clem said. The front of Robbins' 1989 International Harvester snapped a tree that was nearly 2 feet thick and came to a stop against a forked pine.

The force of the impact turned the hood of the truck down into Robbins and pinned him behind the steering wheel.

Roanoke County firefighters and rescue workers used chains and winches to pry the steering wheel forward. Robbins was talking throughout.

Clem said his driving partner is 6 feet 6 and weighs 305 pounds. "He's a big boy; they don'tmess with him in New York City." Clem said he believes Robbins' seat belt saved his life.

Just before 1 a.m., rescuers were able to create large enough opening to slide Robbins from the cab. He was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

by CNB