Who:
Candice Martin, 18, a Graham High School senior, was killed early on the morning of Wednesday, 4/16/14, in Graham, TX, while driving to catch a school bus for a local track meet. She was northbound on Highway 27 in a 2002 Toyota Camry and crossed the center line to impact a southbound 2011 F-250. She died while being airlifted to a hospital, while the other driver, Marshall Hamilton, suffered minor injuries.
How:
Martin was northbound on Highway 67 and apparently crossed the center line and impacted the F-250 head on. Witnesses reportedly talked to her while waiting for the paramedics to arrive, and she died while airlifted by medical helicopter away from the scene.
Why:
It’s unknown at this time why Martin crossed the center line, but the most likely culprit is distracted driving, especially given the limited experience teenagers have as drivers compared to the general population (which is reflected in their higher risks of being involved in fatal collisions).
Investigating the physics of the crash, it is sadly not surprising that Martin died while the F-250 occupant lived, as her vehicle was massively outweighed by the Ford. The 2002 Camry weighs 3276 lbs and comes with a “good” IIHS frontal score. It was impacted by a 2011 F-250, that apparently weighs, on average, more than 7000 lbs, or 214% of the Camry’s weight. As a result, the Camry’s driver automatically faced 114% more force in the collision than she would have if she’d collided with another Camry, placing her at a severe disadvantage in the collision. The Ford occupant, meanwhile, experienced 53% lower forces due to the weight advantage.
Given the likely speeds of the collision (~55 mph), the collision likely imparted at least 960KJ of energy into the Camry. The Camry frontal impact test simulates 238KJ of energy (a Camry impacting another at 40 mph). In other words, the Camry driver faced 403% of the force she’d have experienced in the type of crash her car was rated for. Given the speed of the collision, her odds of survival were, sadly, quite small.
The F-250’s frontal test, had it had one, would simulate 508KJ of energy (a Ford impacting another at 40 mph), indicating that its occupants would have faced 88% of the forces the vehicle was rated to safely withstand, given that the Camry imparted 449KJ of energy into the Ford. This was clearly a survivable collision for the Ford’s occupants, which was reflected in the driver’s survival and lack of significant injuries.
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