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A Cold Day in Hell

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  • Speed and inattention are not a good combination when approaching an inspection station, as this driver found out. The driver was unable to get to the Truck lane and jack-knifed his rig into the canopy of the passenger car lanes at the Truckee Inspection Station on I-80 near Donner Gate. November, 2003.
  • Rainbow Bridge opened in August 1926 but was not paved till two years later. There were no guardrails and accidents often sent autos down the steep hillsides. Rainbow Bridge circa 1929.
  • Before it was old Highway 40, it was the Lincoln Highway. It passed right by Donner Lake and was the main road over the High Sierras Mountains.
  • This is the End result of ride down 400' to the Truckee River at the 55 mile hour curve near Floriston, California. Speed being a factor for this roller coaster ride.
  • In the tow yard on West River St, Truckee, CA it is easy to see how fickle an accident can be; and how lucky a driver can get. This truck is surprisingly intact after a 400' slide down a canyon wall.
  • One large truck hitting an unmovable object will leave the puzzle for the tow truck company and possible hazards from front end damage.
  • Another example of what the tow company has to work with when they arrive on scene of an accident. This was a rollover type accident, speed being the factor for damage.
  • The Nyack Garage with Snow-cats in front.
  • Craig Sutton, owner of Nyack towing.
  • Sam Jackson of Nyack Towing.
  • Jerry Del Re, Justin Mobley, owner Craig Sutton, Sam Jackson, and Josh Sutton of Nyack Towing.
  • Josh Sutton of Nyack Towing.
  • Justin Mobley of Nyack Towing.
  • Edgar Stratton of Dependable Towing Company cleaning his truck.
  • S curve roads can become treacherous with the snow.
  • With bad weather conditions, the roads can be very dangerous.
  • The Nyack tow truck.
  • Becky Norman of Dependable Towing Company.
  • A 4x4 Dependable Tow Truck sits idle during an unusually warm winter day.
  • A Nyack Tow truck during snowy conditions at a recovery.
  • Nyack tow truck driver Sam Jackson describes the process and dangers of recovering this wreck to Camera Operator Andrew Lipson.
  • Chain on tires to help with gripping onto the road in snowy conditions.
  • A flare on the highway to warn drivers of an accident.
  • Jerry Del Re of Nyack Towing.

  • Jack-Knifed Truck

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    Speed and inattention are not a good combination when approaching an inspection station, as this driver found out.  The driver was unable to get to the Truck lane and jack-knifed his rig into the canopy of the passenger car lanes at the Truckee Inspection Station on I-80 near Donner Gate. November, 2003.

  • Dangerous Crossing

    Photograph by Truckee Donner Historical Society/ Richard Joseph Personal Photo Collection

    Rainbow Bridge opened in August 1926 but was not paved till two years later. There were no guardrails and accidents often sent autos down the steep hillsides. Rainbow Bridge circa 1929.

  • The Old Route

    Photograph by Truckee Donner Historical Society

    Before it was old Highway 40, it was the Lincoln Highway. It passed right by Donner Lake and was the main road over the High Sierras Mountains.

  • Crushed Truck

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    This is the End result of ride down 400' to the Truckee River at the 55 mile hour curve near Floriston, California.  Speed being a factor for this roller coaster ride.

  • Good News, Bad News

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    In the tow yard on West River St, Truckee, CA it is easy to see how fickle an accident can be; and how lucky a driver can get.  This truck is surprisingly intact after a 400' slide down a canyon wall.

  • An Accident Mystery

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    One large truck hitting an unmovable object will leave the puzzle for the tow truck company and possible hazards from front end damage.

  • Wrecked Car

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    Another example of what the tow company has to work with when they arrive on scene of an accident.  This was a rollover type accident, speed being the factor for damage. 

  • The Nyack Garage

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    The Nyack Garage with Snow-cats in front.

  • Craig Sutton

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Craig Sutton, owner of Nyack towing. 

  • Sam Jackson

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Sam Jackson of Nyack Towing.

  • The Nyack Towing Team

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Jerry Del Re, Justin Mobley, owner Craig Sutton, Sam Jackson, and Josh Sutton of Nyack Towing. 

  • Josh Sutton

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Josh Sutton of Nyack Towing.

  • Justin Mobley

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Justin Mobley of Nyack Towing.

  • Polishing the Truck

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    Edgar Stratton of Dependable Towing Company cleaning his truck. 

  • Treacherous Curves

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    S curve roads can become treacherous with the snow. 

  • Dangerous Conditions

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    With bad weather conditions, the roads can be very dangerous. 

  • Nyack Truck

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    The Nyack tow truck. 

  • Becky Norman

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    Becky Norman of Dependable Towing Company. 

  • Standing By

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    A 4x4 Dependable Tow Truck sits idle during an unusually warm winter day. 

  • Recovery Mission

    Photograph by Kevin Hughes/ National Geographic Channels

    A Nyack Tow truck during snowy conditions at a recovery. 

  • Talking About Towing

    Photograph by Kevin Hughes/ National Geographic Channels

    Nyack tow truck driver Sam Jackson describes the process and dangers of recovering this wreck to Camera Operator Andrew Lipson.

  • Get a Grip

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    Chain on tires to help with gripping onto the road in snowy conditions.

  • Accident Ahead

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    A flare on the highway to warn drivers of an accident. 

  • Jerry Del Re

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Jerry Del Re of Nyack Towing.

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