A 3:30 A.M. Call on a Rainy U.S. 64
Rain changes the character of a familiar highway. Especially in the middle of the night! A local driver recently experiences such a change and got into an accident. At approximately 3:30 a.m., the Rocky Mount Police Department contacted us for a Rocky Mount accident recovery on U.S. 64 West near mile marker 467. A Chrysler van had lost control in the wet conditions, left the roadway, and slid down the embankment between the eastbound and westbound bridges.
The van finally came to rest along the edge of the creek below. Getting it back to road level would require more than simply loading it onto a tow truck.
Down the Embankment Between Two Bridges
We responded with one rollback equipped with a side-puller recovery system. Once we arrived, the position of the van made the challenge clear. It was well below the roadway, with the embankment, creek, wet ground, and limited working area all affecting how we could approach the recovery.
Two Rocky Mount Police officers established a lane closure for us. That gave our operator the working area needed on the roadway while traffic continued through the surrounding section of U.S. 64.
With the scene established, we could concentrate on bringing the van back up from below.
The Side-Puller Had a Long Way to Bring the Van
A vehicle this far down an embankment cannot simply be approached like a routine roadside tow. For this accident recovery in Rocky Mount, we needed to work from the roadway while controlling the Chrysler’s movement up the slope.
Our rollback’s side-puller recovery system allowed us to begin bringing the van back toward road level. The rainy conditions made the embankment more difficult to work around, while the van’s position near the creek left little room for unnecessary movement.
This was a one-operator response. Training and a deliberate setup mattered because our operator had to manage the recovery from the roadway while accounting for the terrain below.
Getting From the Creek to the Rollback
The first objective was recovering the van itself. We carefully worked it back up the embankment until it reached the roadway, completing the most difficult part of the Rocky Mount vehicle recovery.
Once the Chrysler was back on level ground, the job changed from recovery to transport. We loaded the van onto the rollback and prepared it for the trip away from the accident scene.
One Truck, One Operator, About One Hour
From our arrival until the recovery was complete, the entire job took approximately one hour. That included recovering the Chrysler from its position near the creek, bringing it up the embankment, loading it, and clearing the scene.
Several details shaped this off-road recovery near Rocky Mount:
- The accident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m.
- Rain had contributed to the Chrysler leaving the roadway.
- The van stopped at the edge of a creek below U.S. 64.
- Two police officers provided a lane closure.
- We used one rollback with a side-puller recovery system.
- One operator completed the recovery.
- The job took approximately one hour.
Afterward, we transported the van to our impound lot. It was later scheduled to be picked up by the vehicle owner’s insurance company.
Coastal Towing Services for Rocky Mount Accident Recovery
This U.S. 64 call required coordination with law enforcement, a rollback equipped for recovery work, and an operator prepared to work through wet conditions with the vehicle well below the roadway. We were able to recover the Chrysler, load it onto the rollback, and transport it to our impound lot within roughly an hour.
For Coastal Towing Services, Rocky Mount accident recovery can involve much more than picking up a damaged vehicle from the shoulder. When an accident sends a vehicle down an embankment or away from the roadway, getting it back is the first part of the tow.
FAQs
What equipment can recover a vehicle from an embankment?
The equipment depends on the vehicle’s position and the terrain. For this recovery, we used a rollback equipped with a side-puller recovery system to bring the Chrysler van back toward the roadway.
Why are wet embankments difficult for vehicle recovery?
Rain can make slopes slick and affect the working conditions around a vehicle. Operators also have to consider the vehicle’s position, elevation, and available space before beginning the recovery.
Can a rollback recover a vehicle that is below the roadway?
A properly equipped rollback can handle some off-road and embankment recoveries. In this case, the side-puller system allowed us to recover the van from below U.S. 64 before loading it onto the rollback.
Why was a lane closure needed during this recovery?
The rollback needed sufficient working space on U.S. 64 while the van was recovered from below. Two Rocky Mount Police officers established the lane closure so our operator could work from the roadway.
How long can an embankment recovery take?
Every recovery is different because terrain, weather, vehicle position, and access all affect the job. This particular recovery took approximately one hour from arrival through completion.
What happens to a vehicle after an accident recovery?
That depends on the circumstances surrounding the accident. After this job, we transported the Chrysler van to Coastal Towing Services’ impound lot, where it was scheduled for pickup by the owner’s insurance company.