MEDIA ADVISORY

PENNSYLVANIA WIDOWS LOBBY U.S. SENATORS & CONGRESSMEN TO PREVENT TRUCK CRASHES & IMPROVE SAFETY

Congress Beginning Reauthorization of Surface Transportation Bill

WHAT: The widows of Bradley Telep and David Wert, Sr. will visit the PA offices of U.S. Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey and Congressmen Lou Barletta and Bill Shuster to discuss crucial truck safety issues including the dangers of increasing truck size and weight limits, the importance of entry-level driver training requirements, and implementation of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Clearinghouse Rule.

Congress is beginning the reauthorization process for the federal surface transportation bill with the threat of an increase in the federal truck size and weight limits for trucks. Between 2005-2011, there were 1,220 fatalities in crashes involving large trucks in PA. In 2011, large trucks were involved in 9.1% of fatal crashes in the state.

Bigger, heavier trucks not only pose a danger to motorists, but also accelerate wear on our roads and bridges. Pennsylvania is already struggling to maintain and expand its deteriorating infrastructure. A 2010 study found that PA needs an additional $3.5 billion per year in order to fully meet the State’s transportation infrastructure needs.

WHO:

Kimberly Telep, Truck Safety Coalition Volunteer, Harrisburg, PA

Kimberly’s husband, Bradley Telep, died on August 29, 2012 after a tractor trailer swerved and hit him on the shoulder of the New Jersey Turnpike. The driver of the truck was under the influence of heroin at the time and sentenced to four years in prison.

Dorothy Wert, Truck Safety Coalition Volunteer, Montrose, PA

Dorothy’s husband, David Wert, Sr., was killed in a truck crash on May 23, 2011 in DuBois, PA, when an inexperienced truck driver left his broken-down truck parked in the middle of a dark highway with no lights on, warning signals or flares. David, a 35-year truck driver, was unable to stop his truck in time and crashed into the back of the unlit truck.

WHEN: Thursday, March 27, 2014, 4 – 6 p.m. Available for media interviews immediately following their meetings.

CONTACTS:

Kimberly Telep, (717) 433-1821, kimberlyatelep@gmail.com

Kaitlyn Wert, (570) 432-0030, dwert@stny.rr.com

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