On Tuesday, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) conducted a dramatic test of a runaway truck arrestor system on Teton Pass — and the whole thing was caught on video.
The test took place around 10 a.m. on the east side of Teton Pass as a way for officials to ensure that the catch-cable system was working properly.
The catch-net cable truck arrestor uses a series of 8 to 10 cable nets that span across a long, narrow ramp adjacent to the highway to stop runaway vehicles.
The truck arrestor was last used in June 2021, when a pickup driver lost his brakes and utilized the system. The arrestor was heavily damaged in September 2019 when it was used by a truck hauling a load of logs and required extensive repair.
During Tuesday’s test run of the truck arrestor, WYDOT put professional performance driver Arnold Korbmacher behind the wheel of a 58,000-pound sand truck and had him hit speeds of 60 m.p.h. before using the arrestor. The arrestor stopped the truck and the test was considered a success.
Check out the video below.