WYNNE — A crash involving an 18-wheeler and a tractor near the KWYN studio Tuesday morning highlights the importance of highway safety during harvest season.
The crash happened around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on Highway 64, just west of Hicks Brothers Welding. No injuries have been reported.
However, Jenna Martin, Cross County Extension Agent – Staff Chair, said the crash is an example of how we all need to share the road this time of year.
“My perspective is always, having been on the farm, if I was driving that, I would want someone to scoot over for me,” Martin said. “If you can wait a few seconds even, it’s worth it because there’s a lot of accidents that happen that don’t need to. It’s just not called for. Just people being in a hurry.”
Martin said the same concept of sharing the road — which has been used to promote motorcycle safety — applies to those encountering farm equipment.
“Pretty much the same concept, it’s probably not hitting home as it is with motorcycles but it still should be the same principle,” she said. “If people, even if they come across a bridge, I’ve seen that a lot of times. I’ll scoot over because there’s no way a vehicle and a tractor’s going to be able to make it on a narrow bridge. If you can pull over and just put your flashers on and let him come across, it literally takes 15 seconds a lot of times. It’s not long at all.”
Increased traffic from farm equipment is expected throughout harvest season, which typically continues through November.
