Who:

Gary Biemel, 62, as well as his three passengers in a 2005-era Pontiac Bonneville–David Cuneo, 54, Florence Donachy, 81, and Elaine Beimel, 55, were killed on 8/31/13 at around 4:30 PM on US Route 219 along the Allegheny National Forest close to Kane, PA in Hamlin Township. Also killed were Jarrett Costanzo, 6, and Olivia Douglas, 12, daughter of Kathleen “Kathy” Douglas, 37. Costanzo was her cousin, and Douglas drove a 2005 Jeep Liberty. Douglas was seriously injured, as was her 10 year old son, David.

How:

Per police reports, Douglas was driving southbound and crossed the center line and caused the head-on collision with the Bonneville that was northbound. Olivia was found dead in the front passenger seat  Douglas‘ son was located in the rear driver’s side seat, while her nephew, who died, was found in the rear passenger’s side seat. Two of the children in her vehicle were not properly restrained–her son and Jarrett. All four occupants of Beimel’s vehicle died at the scene, at least one was unbelted, and all the deceased died from multiple blunt force traumas.

It was determined that Douglas had picked up a prescription the previous day for 60 Clonazepam pills to be taken twice daily. The bottle found in her purse on the day of the collision had only 33 pills left. The toxicology report indicated her bodily levels of Clonazepam were several times higher than indicated per the prescription. When interviewed, Douglas indicated she did not remember the day of the crash, and stated that she had only taken one pill prior to the crash. She was charged with six count of vehicular homicide and a number of other charges.

The official police report is here.

Why:
This is yet another tragic case of impaired driving. Regardless of Douglas’ statements, it is clear that she was under the influence of several times the recommended dosage of a benzodiazepine, and this is why she crossed the median and crashed. The full police report is worth reading, as it contains the list of charges, documentation of the scene, and interview with Douglas.

The 2005 Bonneville weighs ~3558 lbs and is rated “good” in its IIHS frontal score, which is the primary score relevant here. It was impacted by a 2005 Liberty, a midsized SUV with a “marginal” frontal score that weighs ~4100 lbs, or 115% of the weight of the Bonneville. As a result, the Bonneville occupants automatically faced 15% more force in the collision than they would have if they’d collided with another Bonneville, placing them at a disadvantage in the collision. This is also 115% of the weight of the simulated vehicle (another Bonneville) in the IIHS frontal impact test.

Douglas and her occupants should have been at an advantage, as their vehicle would have experienced 13% lower forces due to their weight advantage. However, there were two significant drawbacks to their survivability. First, at least two of the children appeared to be unbelted–the nephew, who died, and the son, who was injured. This severely increased their risks of death. Second, the “marginal” score of the Liberty indicated it did not protect them the way a 4100 lb vehicle should have. Instead, it probably protected them like a 3000 lb vehicle with a “good” score would have, although it still behaved like a 4100 lb vehicle to the Bonneville’s occupants.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (~65 mph), the collision likely imparted at least 785KJ of energy into the Bonneville. The Bonneville’s frontal impact test simulates 258KJ of energy (a Bonneville impacting another at 40 mph). In other words, the Bonneville occupants faced 304% of the force they’d have experienced in the type of crash their car was rated for. It is understandable that they succumbed to these forces, especially considering the advanced ages of the occupants. Furthermore, at least one of the occupants in the Bonneville was reportedly unbelted, potentially turning that individual into a human cannonball who may have caused the deaths of one or more additional occupants in the vehicle.

The Liberty’s frontal test simulated 297KJ of energy (a Liberty impacting another at 40 mph), indicating that its occupants would have faced 229% of the forces their truck was rated to safely withstand, given that the Bonneville imparted 681KJ of energy into the Liberty. Given the “marginal” score, combined with the higher forces, the risks of deaths were high. These risks were increased further by the lack of proper restraints.

Reviewing the pictures of the accident, it appears clear that Douglas had crossed almost completely to the other side of the road, as the primary impact location was to the passenger side of the Liberty, and presumably the passenger side of the Bonneville. The severity of the crash in the passenger area explains the deaths of both Olivia, who would have experienced more of the crash than her mother, and who also had a slighter and less mature frame (children under 13 should sit in the back, per the NHTSA), as well as the death of Jarrett, who sat directly behind her and was unbelted. The two survivors in the Liberty were on the driver’s side, which was significantly less impacted, as evidenced by the relatively intact A-frame.

This is one of the few examples I’ve found so far of a multi-vehicle collision where fatalities occurred in the higher weight vehicle. The poor frontal score, lack of seat belt use, and unsafe placement of the children contributed to these deaths.

This was ultimately a wholly preventable tragedy. Douglas awaits trial.

Prologue: Douglas was later sentenced in September 2014 to more than 11 years in prison for the events of August 2013.

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