Truck Driver Survives Violent Windstorm That Tossed Semi Off Kansas Highway

0
5K


A routine drive through Kansas turned into a life-threatening ordeal for truck driver Marcus Clark, whose semi-truck was lifted off the ground and thrown into a ditch by powerful 70 mph wind gusts in Garden City on Tuesday.

Clark, who was hauling an empty trailer on U.S. Route 83 north of K-68 Highway, recalled the terrifying moment when his trailer lifted first and never came back down.

"It was just like a movie. It went in slo-mo," Clark told FOX Weather, describing the violent windstorm that sent his truck careening off the road.

Seatbelt and Luck Saved His Life

As his rig became airborne, Clark said his focus was on avoiding a collision with other vehicles. Realizing he couldn’t regain control, he made the split-second decision to steer into the ditch to minimize damage.

Photos from the crash scene reveal that his truck was likely totaled, yet Clark miraculously escaped unscathed.

"My family, friends, wife… everybody said God was there with me," Clark said. "And when I see the pictures, I'm like, yeah, he really was."

He also credited his seatbelt for saving his life, emphasizing, "Oh my God. Yes. Safety first. If I didn’t have that seatbelt, I wouldn’t be here."

 

Unpredictable Winds Wreak Havoc Across the Region

The dangerous windstorm that toppled Clark’s truck struck even before the arrival of heavy snow, highlighting the extreme force of the gusts.

"I've been through it all—snow, rain, even tornadoes. But wind? If it comes out of nowhere, you're not going to see it," Clark said.

On Tuesday, wind gusts reached 93 mph in Hugoton, Kansas, with multiple reports of 80+ mph gusts across the western part of the state.

The powerful winter storm also killed at least three people in Nebraska as it swept through the Plains and Midwest.

Clark, now recovering from the terrifying experience, is grateful to be alive and hopes his story serves as a reminder of the dangers of extreme wind for truckers and travelers alike.



Search
Sponsored
Categories
Read More
Trucking News
A driver in a stolen BMW did an astonishing amount of damage to a school bus — see the wild pics
This week in Spokane, Washington, a suspect in a stolen BMW struck a 10 ton school bus hard...
By MEGA MISTAKES 2021-11-27 12:54:23 0 14K
Trucking News
USDOT Warns Illinois to Revoke Illegally Issued Non-Domiciled CDLs Within 30 Days or Risk Losing $128 Million
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has warned that Illinois could...
By Truck Drivers Life 2026-02-18 00:15:50 0 593
Trucking News
Overfilled Wood Load Snags Power Lines in Masardis, Leaving Tractor-Trailer Stuck for Hours
MASARDIS, MAINE — A tractor-trailer hauling a fresh load of wood became tangled in power...
By Truck Drivers Life 2026-01-07 15:18:07 0 489
Trucking News
Trailers destroyed at new trucking company in second fire this month
Four trailers were destroyed in a fire at a recently opened trucking company in Pennsylvania on...
By MEGA MISTAKES 2022-08-29 14:20:10 0 11K
Trucking News
Tractor-trailer and pickup collide in Warsaw, spilling frozen food later donated to local pantries
WARSAW, New York — A tractor-trailer crash that closed part of West Buffalo Street on...
By Truck Drivers Life 2025-10-30 14:29:06 0 1K
News | Truck Drivers Life | Social Network for Truck Drivers https://www.truckdrivers.life