ATA Road Team member, passenger die in crash
Tony Sifford died at the scene in a two-truck crash in Ruston, La.
The Trucker Staff
9/29/2008
RUSTON, La. — Federal Express driver Anthony Sifford, a member of the American Trucking Associations' America’s Road Team, and a passenger, Rodney Palmer, died as a result of a two-truck crash early the morning of Sept. 24 on Interstate 20 near the western edge of Ruston, La.
Sifford, 41, of Hillsville, Va., died at the scene of the crash and Palmer, 38, of Martinsville, Va., died the next day, said Ruston Police Public Information Officer Lt. Curtis Hawkins.
The ATA’s Road Team features professional truck drivers with more than 1 million accident-free miles who represent the trucking industry and deliver its highway safety message to the public, according to Road Safe America, a nonprofit highway safety organization.
The crash occurred when the 18-wheeler Sifford was driving east struck a slow-moving eastbound 18-wheeler from behind as he changed lanes, according to Ruston police reports.
Hawkins said the slow-moving truck, a rig with TARA Wrecker Inc. of Jonesboro, Ga., driven by 35-year-old Pete Francis, was carrying two large generators used in Hurricane Ike relief efforts.
“The 18-wheeler that was changing lanes burst into flames upon impact,” Hawkins said.
He said some kind of mechanical trouble was suspected of causing the TARA 18-wheeler to travel slowly. State Police issued Francis four citations in the crash for logbook violations and operating a commercial vehicle in violation of a federal 14-hour driving rule. State Police Public Information Officer Mark Dennis said the log showed Francis had been driving about 15 minutes over that federal guideline when the crash occurred.
Along with Ruston Police, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office and State Police responded to the wreck, Hawkins said. Louisiana Tech Police helped direct traffic. Ruston Fire, Lincoln Parish Fire and the hazmat unit also responded.
Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor in the accident, and Ruston police are working on an accident reconstruction and report.
ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said “Sifford was devoted to the trucking industry, accumulating 1.8 million accident free miles during his 14-year career. But more importantly, Tony was a part of the ATA family, a dedicated Road Team Captain and an amazing person. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
Clayton W. Boyce, vice president of Public Affairs and Press Secretary of the ATA, said Sifford was not on official America's Road Team business at the time of the accident.
Sifford was a member of the FedEx Million Mile Club, as well as the FedEx Safety Team and a recipient of the 11-Year Safety Award, as well as a member of the North Carolina Road Team. He had been an active in the North Carolina Truck Driving Championships since 2003.