Window on the Clearwater
Traditional news Today's technology
triviahead.JPG - 10433 Bytes

No one got this one!!

A near tour bus vs log truck collision is the answer for Clearwater History Trivia #669, a special feature to celebrate the history and heritage of Clearwater Country.

Join in the discovery!

Monday: A tour bus

Wednesday: A loaded log truck

Thursday: Cecil Andrus

Friday: To Camp 6

Saturday: A narrow one-lane road

Monday: A flagman was stationed

Tuesday: Bertha Hill

Wednesday: Log truck lost its brakes

Thursday: The driver turned his truck into the canyon.

Friday: Then he bailed out.

Saturday: 15-20 feet from the lead bus

Monday: Thank you letters were sent.

Tuesday: Runaway speed

Wednesday: The truck was practically destroyed.

Thursday: Members of Congress

Friday: Land Board Members

Saturday: Tax Commission

Monday: Legislators from the Resource Committee

Tuesday: Red Manfull was the lead bus driver

Wednesday: The log truck driver came through the wreck in fine shape.

Thursday: Truck practically destroyed

In his book, White Pines and Fires, A.B. Curtis recounts a story about an inspection trip that involved about 100 guests including Land Board members, Tax Commission people, Legislators from the Resource Committee and etc., most particularly Cecil Andrus who at the time was a candidate for governor.

Three large buses with several private cars following were headed up Bertha Hill after stops for some discussions along the way. They had just crossed the upper fork of Alder Creek and were starting up the long, narrow road up the hill to old Camp 6. There was about a mile of road with no place to pass. Ahead of the procession, Curtis had placed a flagman at the top of the hill to stop anyone going down.

It became a very serious matter when the flagman was unable to stop a fully loaded logging truck coming down against the tour group. The log truck driver had lost his brakes and could not stop. As the truck's speed picked up on the downhill grade, he knew something had to be done, but the procession coming up did not know the log truck was coming down thinking that the pilot truck had stopped all downhill traffic.

Rounding the curve at runaway speed, the log truck driver suddenly saw the lead bus on the way up. There was no room to pass. Red Manfull was the driver of the lead bus. It became evident that a crash was eminent and seemed there was nothing that could be done to prevent it. The log truck driver chose to turn his truck into the canyon and rolled out as the truck went over the edge just 15-20 feet from the lead bus.

The log truck was practically destroyed and logs strewn all down the side of the canyon. Manfull stopped the bus as quickly as he could and everyone ran to see what had happened to the brave log truck driver. Curtis said he came through the crash in fine shape. Andrus asked the name of the truck driver and bus driver, then sent them letters praising their brave actions.

Trivia Archives

Sponsored by:

Want accurate, daily news for Orofino and Clearwater County?

Subscribe to:

Window on the Clearwater
Traditional news Today's technology

It's a bargain at $3 per month, $18 for 6 months or $30 per year. (Idaho residents, please add 6% sales tax)

Subscribing is easy:

  • Drop us a check with your email address and we will sign you up. (See the mailing address at left)
  • Pay online: Click this Registration link and follow the Pay Pal instructions.

Window on the Clearwater
P.O. Box 2444
Orofino, ID 83544
Orofino 476 0733
Fax: 208-476-4140
Email