Couple in Pickup Saved by their Trailer's Safety Chain

Because of advances in safety and available equipment, it’s extremely safe for folks to tow a trailer. But sometimes those precautions pay off in unexpected ways. A couple of vacationers in Idaho can attest to that.

The stunning images shared by the Magic Valley Paramedics show an RV on its side on an overpass, with the pickup truck that was pulling it dangling from the end of the trailer's safety chain. Below the occupants of the vehicle, a ravine and certain death if not for the chain.

The accident occurred on the Malad Gorge Bridge over the Snake River on Interstate 84 in southern Idaho. I’ve actually visited that area, and in several places the river sits far below the level of the road. Cliffs and ravines are common in the area.

The first person to arrive on the scene of the accident feared the worst as he approached the wreckage. Trucker Rod Drury said he felt sure he would see a crushed vehicle at the bottom of the ravine. But lo and behold, the pickup was hanging over the side, dangling from the end of the safety chain.

Inside were the 67-year-old driver and his 64-year-old wife, both from Garden City, Idaho, and their two small dogs.

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