Who:

Silvia Flores, 49, and her daughter, Jennifer, 23, were killed at around 5:40 PM on Monday, 5/19/14, at the intersection of Texas Ave. and Rose Blvd. They died in a 2013 Toyota Camry, and were impacted by a 2008 Nissan 350Z driven by Fizal Rahaman, 19, who had Franck Mission, 20, as a passenger.

How:

The Camry was eastbound on Rose while the 350Z was southbound on Texas Ave. The Camry stopped at the stop sign before entering the intersection. Rahaman didn’t have a stop sign. The 350Z struck the Camry on its driver side. Both Flores’ died at the scene. Rahaman and Mission had minor injuries, and Rahaman supplied a voluntary blood sample. Troopers felt alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Witnesses stated the 350Z was apparently speeding (beyond the 35 mph limit).

Why:

This is another sad case resulting from speeding, which is implicated in 1 out of every 3 auto deaths in the US. While it does appear that the 350Z had the right of way, it is highly likely that the collision would not have occurred had the 350Z not been speeding.

The 2013 Camry weighs ~3258 lbs and has a “good” side score. It comes with head and torso side airbags in the front seats. Its structural subscore was “good” as well. In other words, relative to technology available today, this should have been a solid vehicle for a side impact. The 2008 350Z is closely related to the Infiniti G35. It weighs ~3344 lbs and would likely have a “good” frontal score if tested, based on its relation to the G35.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (I’ll estimate ~55 mph, or significantly above the 35 mph PSL), the collision likely imparted at least 458KJ of energy into the Camry / 350Z. The standard side impact test simulates 143KJ of energy (a 3300-lb sled impacting a vehicle at 31 mph). In other words, the Camry faced 320% of the force it would have experienced in the types of crashes cars are side rated for. It is sadly understandable that the victims succumbed to these forces.

Meanwhile, the 350Z was designed to perform well in a frontal impact test simulating 243KJ of energy (i.e., a 350Z impacting its twin at 40 mph). The 350Z’s occupants faced 188% of these forces. Their survival was practically a given, despite the significantly higher forces, and is a testament to the “good” frontal score, the presence of front airbags, and the occupants’ use of seat belts.

This is a sad and entirely preventable pair of deaths. Despite the fact that the victims were traveling in a safe, well-rated vehicle, the protective factors could not overcome the extremely high risk factors of speed, as well as a teenage driver behind the wheel of a high risk vehicle (the 350Z had the highest death rate of any vehicle at 148 in the most recent status report, and this collision indicates why–the people who drive it are highly likely to disregard speed limits).

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