Tag Archives: crash

Darla Alexander, 55, by Suffolk, VA, Killed in Semi Underride

March 6, 2015 Mike

Who:

Darla A. Alexander, 55, of Chesapeake, was killed around 10:55 AM on I-664 around Suffolk, VA, when her 2013 Toyota Camry crashed into the back of a 2010 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by John Chase Jr, 41.

How:

Per police reports, the trailer was stopped in the northbound lanes of I-664, “south of the Monitor-Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel” due to a truck crossing the tunnel. Alexander slammed into the back of the trailer and was killed at the scene. Chase was uninjured. Speed was cited as a factor in the crash.

Why:

This was, sadly, a textbook example of a passenger vehicle-large truck fatality due to a rear underride. It looks like a full frontal overlap in the picture. Trailer rear underride guards are designed to withstand a 35 mph full or moderate overlap without causing catastrophic injuries (death) to the impacting vehicle, which indicates Alexander must have been traveling at significantly more than 35 mph to have impacted with enough force to lead to that level of cabin intrusion (which would be classified as catastrophic, as the intrusion extended past the B frame of the vehicle). Catastrophic levels of intrusion are virtually unsurvivable. Despite the impressive safety features of the 2013 Camry, there was virtually no chance of survival once she exceeded, I’d estimate, 45 mph. The reasons for the crash are not known at this time, but they almost certainly were due to driver inattention, whether due to cell phone use, radio use, sleepiness, or alcohol / medical impairment.

It is essential to repeat that this crash was preventable, but that virtually no passenger vehicle exists that would have protected her at the speeds at which she likely crashed, as the significant marker of trailer underride crashes is that the part that results in death–the trailer itself–is above the crash-absorbing structures of virtually every vehicle on the road.

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Drowning Hazard: Narrows Marina Boat Launch Ramp

February 8, 2015 Mike

I’ve written before about the dangers of vehicle submersions before, and about the kinds of equipment you need to get yourself out of such situations in the few seconds you may have to escape. This is an example of a drowning hazard that hasn’t been fixed and that is simply waiting for anyone unfortunate enough to drive into it.

The Narrows Marina boat launch, a private boat ramp in Tacoma, Washington, has led to the deaths of at least 4 people and the immersions of at least 8 drivers in the last 14 years. It’s located at South 19th Street in Tacoma, Washington, is owned by Gordon Rush and Scott Wagner, and is the subject of this great writeup by Kari Plog.

Records from the accidents paint a similar picture: All were the result of lost or confused motorists driving into the water by mistake. All happened in the dark. Most happened at or around high tide. Often it was raining.

In other words, people are continually driving into this drowning hazard that’s essentially unmarked and not subject to local, state, or federal regulations. The owners won’t make any significant changes besides putting up a few signs, and the danger continues.

On a night almost three years ago, Baker found herself at the same dead end. Security camera footage shows her driving down the boat ramp and plowing into the water just before 1 a.m. Her car was found around 7 a.m., submerged in about 10 feet of water with her body inside.

This is a common scene around the country, unfortunately; neglectful owners of private properties who won’t install barriers to prevent accidental drownings. In order to protect yourself from these kinds of situations, you need to know what to do. And you’re not always going to be able to simply drive backwards out of tragedies.

A Bonney Lake couple was killed near the boat ramp on Feb. 15, 2005. Walter and Ethel Nash — 91 and 84 years old — drove into the water about 1:30 a.m., according to police. Their bodies were recovered several hours later.

“There were no skid marks visible on the boat ramp,” the police report states, “suggesting that the vehicle went into the water without attempting to stop.”

Security camera footage showed “no indication of brake lights until the vehicle struck the water and that the backup lights came on after that,” indicating an attempt to drive the car in reverse up the ramp.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/05/04/3178402/tacoma-boat-launch-dark-deadly.html#storylink=cpy

When your car plunges into the water, you may have anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes to get yourself out. Time is of the essence. I highly recommend a life hammer to help you break through vehicle glass quickly to enable an exit. Similarly, it might not be a bad idea to pick up a personal flotation device and store it in your vehicle for such situations. The specific pieces of survival gear I recommend are described in greater detail here.

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A Loved One Killed in Knoxville, TN in Car vs. SUV Crash

December 11, 2014 Mike

Who:

A passenger in a 2007-era Chevy Aveo was killed at around 11:41 AM on Thursday, 5/29/14, just past the parking lot of 6201 Chapman on Chapman Highway in Knoxville, Tennessee, when the vehicle was struck in the right side by a 2000-era Chevrolet Tahoe.

How:

The Aveo was trying to cross all lanes of Chapman Highway. A northbound Chevy close to Lindy Drive struck the Aveo. A rear passenger died while other occupants were injured and transported to a hospital. The Tahoe driver also was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Why:
It sadly appears that driver error on the part of the Aveo led to the collision, while the poor structural integrity of the Aveo itself combined with the high speed nature of the collision and the mass of the Tahoe led to the fatality.

The 2007 Aveo weighs ~2544 lbs and has a “marginal” side score, with a “poor” subscore for head protection for rear passengers. It comes with head and torso side airbags in the front seats and no airbags in the back. The test results specifically said that in the side impact test, the passenger dummy’s head was hit by the intruding barrier. The 2000-era Tahoe weighs ~5382 lbs.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (I’ll estimate ~45mph, based on the PSL), the collision likely imparted at least 494KJ of energy into the Aveo / Tahoe. The standard side impact test simulates 143KJ of energy (a 3300-lb sled impacting a vehicle at 31 mph). In other words, the Aveo faced 345% of the force it would have experienced in the types of crashes cars are side rated for. These kinds of forces are almost always fatal in vehicles with “poor” side scores, and often fatal in vehicles with “good” scores. The fact that multiple individuals survived in the vehicle with its “marginal” score is noteworthy. Unfortunately, the passenger who died was likely hit directly by the Tahoe, as suggested by the crash test.

This is yet another example of the importance of choosing a vehicle with side air bags and, ideally, a well-performing score as rated by the IIHS’ side impact testing program. These are the kinds of details I analyze when putting together information on how to choose a safe car. It’s also another sad example of the tremendous destruction possible by large and heavy vehicles on our roads.

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Travis Trapp and Brent Schultz, 16, in Kewaskum, WI, Killed

December 10, 2014 Mike

Who:

Travis Trapp, 16, from Cascade, WI, and Brent Schultz, 16, from Kewaskum, WI, were killed at around 8:39 AM in Kewaskum, WI in Washington County on Cty Highway H on Wednesday, 6/18/14. They were Kewaskum High School students. They drove a 2004 tan Ford Taurus and were impacted after they crossed the center line and ran into a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy driving a police edition 2010-era Chevrolet Impala.
How:

Per police reports, wet roads might have factored into the collision, as there were several storms in the morning of the crash, and the fire chief, Mark Groeschel, stated that there had been standing water even when they had responded to the collision. The students died at the scene, while the deputy had minor injuries and was treated and released at a hospital. The State Patrol indicated that the westbound students lost control, crossed the yellow line, and collided with the deputy. The Fire Department stated that the students had been wearing their seat belts.

Why:

This is a sad collision that likely resulted from weather conditions, although it is possible that speed may also have played a role. It’s also possible that the presence of ESC might have prevented the collision, had it been present in the Taurus. Whatever the cause, as this is a car safety blog, let’s look at the forces that led to these unfortunate losses of life.

The 2004-era Taurus weighs ~3333 lbs and does not have a side impact score. Head and torso side airbags in the front seats were available as an option but were not standard features, and it does not appear that these were present in this Taurus. We can assume that it would have received a “poor” side impact score, had it been tested, as most mid-priced sedans of its time did. The 2010-era Impala weighs ~3585 lbs and comes with a “good” frontal score; the police edition would likely have weighed slightly more.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (I’ll estimate ~55 mph), the collision likely imparted at least 492KJ of energy into the Taurus / Impala. The standard side impact test simulates 143KJ of energy (a 3300-lb sled impacting a vehicle at 31 mph). In other words, the Taurus faced 344% of the force it would have experienced in the types of crashes cars are side rated for, and this was on top of the fact that it would likely have failed the side impact test to begin with. Given these forces and the high degree of vehicle intrusion, it is sadly understandable that the victims succumbed to their injuries, even with the use of seat belts.

The survival of the deputy was to be expected, in contrast, as he experienced a frontal impact that featured survivable forces. The Impala would have been expected to perform safely in a 260KJ collision, which means that the deputy experienced 189% of tested forces. His survival was almost guaranteed as a result.

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Irving M. Mangel, 76, in Boca Raton, FL, Killed in Underride

November 25, 2014 Mike

Who:
Irving M. Mangel, 76, was killed on Monday, 4/21/14, at around 6 AM in Boca Raton, FL, on Clint Moore Road. He drove a 2014 Hyundai Equus and crashed into the side of a 1999 Freightliner tractor trailer driven by Johnny Ray Arden, 69. Arden was uninjured while Mangel died at the scene.

How:
Per police reports, the trailer was eastbound and trying to make a U-turn. Mangel was westbound and collided. He impacted the side of the trailer and died at the scene.

Why:
This was, sadly, another example of a passenger vehicle-large truck fatality due to a rear underride. The Equus (essentially a larger Sonata) impacted with enough force (likely in excess of 55 mph) to lead to that level of cabin intrusion (which would be classified as catastrophic, as the intrusion extended past the B frame of the vehicle). Catastrophic levels of intrusion are virtually unsurvivable. Despite the impressive safety features of the 2014 Equus, there was virtually no chance of survival. The reasons for the crash are not known at this time, but they almost certainly were due to driver inattention, whether due to cell phone use, radio use, sleepiness, or alcohol / medical impairment.

It is essential to repeat that this crash was preventable, but that virtually no passenger vehicle exists that would have protected him at the speeds at which he likely crashed, as the significant marker of trailer underride crashes is that the part that results in death–the trailer itself–is above the crash-absorbing structures of virtually every vehicle on the road.

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35,000 Americans will die this year on the road. You don't have to be one of them. A car seat and car safety blog to promote best practices for families.