Trailer accident leads to accusation of road rage

By TOM KANE

LAVA, NY — Large-sized manufactured homes on trailers have been traveling on local roads for nearly a year without an accident.

Not any more. An accident happened on Monday, August 25 and it nearly led to a bigger tragedy.

Two trailers carrying large homes were traveling north on Route 52 near the intersection of County Route 25 in Lava when a car heading the other way hit the corner of the house and lost the car’s side mirror.

“This pickup truck didn’t move over when we passed him,” said the driver of the flag car behind the trailer. “After he hit the side of the house, he turned around and came back at us in a rage. He came up to me and drove me into the ditch.”

The driver said he got out of the flag car to talk to the driver of the pickup truck. “He started his car and tried to hit me but missed,” the flag car driver said.

These details were related to a state trooper who appeared at the accident in quick time.

Alan Ribbe of Beach Lake, PA, the driver of the pickup, realized he was bleeding badly and went to a nearby house to get help. A neighbor called 911. Ribbe, who was given first aid at the scene, was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, PA by the Tusten Volunteer Ambulance Service. He was unavailable for an interview.

The trailers were transporting houses from Hazelton, PA to Vermont, the driver said. “I’ve been driving a flag car for 35 years and haven’t had an accident,” he said.

These large vehicles are traveling on local roads because oversized vehicles are banned temporarily on Interstate 84 due to road construction.