Tag Archives: crash

Two Women Killed, Three Children Hurt near Kerman, CA, in Car vs. Pickup Crash

June 30, 2014 Mike

Who:
Maria Ledesma, 67, and her daughter, Christina Ledesma, 29, were killed on 3/21/14 at 7:30 AM at the intersections of Jensen and Goldenrod Avenues near Kerman, CA. Both women sat in the front, while three children under age 5 sat in the back. Two received mild to moderate injuries, while a third suffered severe head trauma from the car’s roof collapse in the rollover. Erick Diaz, 34, impacted them in a 2003 Dodge Dakota. Christina was a mother to one of the three children and babysitting the remaining two. Diaz received minor injuries.

How:
The Tercel was eastbound on Jenson. The Dakota ran the Goldenrod stop sign while southbound at 55 mph. It impacted the Tercel on the driver’s side and both vehicles rolled. The two women died at the scene, while the children were injured. Diaz stated he did not notice the stop sign.

When:
This appears to be another sad case of fatalities resulting from an individual running a stop sign. What makes this case particularly tragic is that the law-abiding citizens were killed due to the negligence of the law-breaking driver.

The 1995 Tercel weighs ~2000 lbs and did not come with a side impact score or side airbags. It would have received a “poor” side rating due to the lack of airbags and high degree of cabin intrusion. It was impacted by a 2003 Dakota, which weighed ~3589 lbs. That’s 109% of the weight of the simulated vehicle in the IIHS side impact test.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (~55 mph), the collision likely imparted at least 492KJ of energy into the Tercel. The standard side impact test simulates 143KJ of energy (a 3300-lb sled impacting a vehicle at 31 mph). In other words, the Tercel’s occupants faced 344% of the force they’d have experienced in the types of crashes cars are side rated for. Given the speed of the collision and the lack of airbags and structural integrity of the Tercel, their odds of survival were, sadly, virtually non-existent.

It is highly noteworthy that all three children survived the collision, albeit with various degrees of injury. It is almost certain that all three children were belted, and a car seat was recovered from the scene of the collision, suggesting at least one child was very securely restrained. Given their survival, it is likely that all three children were restrained in well-fitting car seats that met all relevant safety requirements. What we have here is another sad example of the orphan seat phenomenon, wherein the children survived due to their proper restraints while the adults in the vehicle did not.

This collision was completely preventable. Diaz will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges.

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Four Killed, Child Injured in Car vs. SUV Crash

June 27, 2014 Mike

Who:
Judge Terri Johnson, 40, drove a 2009-era Volkswagen Passat the wrong way on Highway 287 close to Decatur, TX, around 6 PM Saturday evening, 4/26/14, and killed herself and Juan Jose Rios, 32; Sherry Ann Rios, 50; and Amy Dee Culwell, 35; who were driving in a 2009-era Chevrolet Trailblazer. A 4 year old girl in the Trailblazer was severely injured in the collision, but is expected to survive. Unfortunately, her parents did not.

How:
Slightly before 6PM, Johnson, who was traveling the wrong way (southbound) in the northbound SH 287 lane, drove head on into a northbound Trailblazer. The three adults in the Trailblazer and Johnson in the Passat were killed on impact, while the 4 year old, who was not restrained in a child seat, was ejected from the vehicle. Per the police, no evidence of alcohol has as yet been found. However, witnesses who’d called 911 reported seeing her driving erratically from one side of the road to the next in the minutes preceding the crash. A number of witnesses arrived at the scene immediately after the crash and attempted to offer aid to both vehicle’s occupants, including a number of truckers who put out the Trailblazer fire with extinguishers.

Why:
It is currently unknown why Johnson was driving the wrong way down a highway in broad daylight, although given the near 100% frequency with which alcohol or drugs are a factor in wrong way fatal collisions, I have to wonder if she was driving under the influence of said substances. What is absolutely certain is that the collision was the result of her actions, and that four individuals are dead and a child critically injured as a result.

Investigating the physics of the crash, the sheer number of fatalities is surprising and saddening. The 2009 Passat weighs 3435 lbs and comes with a “good” IIHS frontal score. It was impacted by a 2009 Trailblazer that weighs 4641 lbs, or 135% of the Passat’s weight and was rated only “acceptable” in its frontal score. As a result, the Passat driver automatically faced 35% more force in the collision than she would have if she’d collided with another Passat, placing her at a significant disadvantage in the collision. The Trailblazer occupants, meanwhile, experienced 26% lower forces due to the weight advantage. However, the “acceptable” score worked against them, significantly reducing the protection the vehicle should have afforded them.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (~65 mph, per witness reports), the collision likely imparted at least 889KJ of energy into the Passat. The Passat frontal impact test simulates 249KJ of energy (a Passat impacting another at 40 mph). In other words, the Passat driver faced 357% 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 next to zero.

The Trailblazer frontal test simulated 337KJ of energy (a Trailblazer impacting another at 40 mph), indicating that its occupants would have faced 195% of the forces the vehicle was rated to safely withstand, given that the Passat imparted 658KJ of energy into the Trailblazer.

This should have been a survivable collision for the Trailblazer’s occupants, but none of the adults did. Witness reports indicated that the vehicle may have been thrown several feet into the air by the force of the impact, which could have led to the deaths of the adults. Somehow, however, the child survived, despite not being restrained in a rear-facing seat and being partially ejected from the vehicle. A 4-year-old child should ideally be in a rear-facing seat, and if not, should definitely be in a forward-facing harnessed seat.

This was a completely preventable tragedy, and a potentially corruptly investigated one. The results of Johnson’s toxicology test stated she was not under the influence of any substances.

I don’t believe those results.

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Courtney Ann Sanford, 32, in High Point, NC, Dies in Car vs. Dump Truck Crash

June 24, 2014 Mike

Who:
Courtney Ann Sanford, 32, from Clemmons, died in High Point, NC, close to Baker Road at around 8:30 AM on Thursday, 4/24/14, in her 2005 Toyota Corolla. She collided with a metal recycling truck. She died instantly. The truck driver, John Wallace Thompson, 73, was unhurt.

How:
Sanford was northbound on Bus. 85 when she crossed the median and crashed into a southbound metal recycling truck. Per police reports, Sanford was traveling at 45 mph at the time of impact. After the collision, her car caught fire, although the flames were put out quickly. The truck left the road and impacted a tree. Per police reports, Sanford’s cell phone showed she had made a final Facebook post to friends at 8:33 AM, one minute prior to the report of the accident. A review of Sanders’ cell phone also indicated that she had been taking and posting pictures, or selfies, of herself while driving. Per investigators, Sanford’s last post was: “The happy song makes me HAPPY,” Her friends apparently notified investigators later that day due to the coincidence of the time stamp of the Facebook post and the time of the accident. Sanford was also reportedly wearing a seat belt, but it was somehow fastened improperly.

Why:
This collision was completely preventable. The culprit was distracted driving. Specifically, Sanders was taking pictures of herself, texting, and posting to Facebook in the minutes preceding and leading to the moment of impact. Texting is implicated in a number of fatal crashes per year, and is considered to impair driving abilities as much as alcoholic consumption.

Given the physics of the crash, the results are sadly unsurprising. The 2005 Corolla weighed ~2582 lbs and came with a good frontal score. It was impacted by what appears to be a standard 10-wheel dump truck, which can weigh at least 24,000 lbs. That’s at least 930% of the weight the Corolla would have experienced in an IIHS front impact test.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (~45 mph), the collision likely imparted at least 2.2MJ of energy into the Corolla. The standard front impact test for the Corolla would simulate 187KJ of energy (a Corolla impacting its twin at 40 mph). In other words, she faced 1176% of the force she’d have experienced in the types of crashes Corollas are front rated for. Given these forces, her odds of survival were, sadly, virtually non-existent.

The reconstruction of this crash is sadly summarized concisely by the police spokesperson’s statements here:

‘In a matter of seconds, a life was over just so she could notify some friends that she was happy.’

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Kathlean Kennedy, 25, in Hanoverton, OH, Killed in Car vs. RV Crash

June 15, 2014 Mike

Who:

Kathlean Kennedy, 25, from Massillion, Ohio was killed at around 2:27 PM on Friday, 6/4/14, close to Haverton, Ohio. She was westbound on U.S. Route 30 driving a 2010 Ford Fusion east of Lindesmith Rd. She crossed the center line and impacted a 1998 Allegro recreational vehicle that Robert Lausted, 44, from Bronson, Texas. Kennedy died at the scene, while her 1-year-old daughter, Elli, was in stable condition after hospitalization. Lausted was uninjured.

How:

Per police reports, Kennedy was westbound and approaching a curve when she crossed the center line into the path of the RV. Lausted told troopers that she appeared to have been looking downward before the crash, and that she “looked up and jerked the wheel, but it was too late.” After the impact, the Fusion spun and ended up on the side of the road. Kennedy was belted and died due to severe head trauma. Her daughter was in the center rear seat securely restrained in an infant car seat, and per emergency responders who’d removed her seat, it was still secured well after the collision. The child was airlifted to a local children’s hospital and was in stable condition. Alcohol is not suspected as a factor in the collision.

Why:

This appears to be another sad case of distracted driving. For whatever reason, Kennedy was staring downward, and did not look up until it was too late to avoid the collision. I have to wonder if she was not looking at a phone, as phone-related driving collisions have been increasing in recent years, and are more common among younger drivers.

Investigating the physics of the crash, it is not surprising that Kennedy died while Lausted lived, as her vehicle was massively outweighed by his. The 2010 Fusion weighs 3384 lbs and comes with a “good” IIHS frontal score. It was impacted by a 1998 Allegro Class A RV that weighs around 23,000 pounds, or 680% of the Fusion’s weight. As a result, the Fusion driver automatically faced 580% more force in the collision than she would have if she’d collided with another Fusion, placing her at a severe disadvantage in the collision.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (~55 mph), the collision likely imparted at least 3.15MJ of energy into the Fusion. The Fusion frontal impact test simulates 245KJ of energy (a Fusion impacting another at 40 mph). In other words, the Fusion driver faced 1286% 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, virtually non-existent.

The part of this story that speaks to me most, however, is the survival of her daughter. Despite the unimaginably high forces imparted upon the vehicle and the severe degree of structural intrusion visible in the photos above, the child lived. Why?

I’ve written before extensively about the importance of choosing the right car seat and properly restraining children, and this is a textbook example of the advantage properly-restrained children have, even in severe collisions. Elli was almost certainly restrained in a rear-facing infant seat such as the Keyfit or MESA. Her mother also followed best practices of installing her in the center seat, as suggested by research. Properly restrained children can survive crashes that would otherwise be unsurvivable.

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Reagan Hartley, 22, in Greensboro, NC, Killed in Car vs. SUV Crash

June 12, 2014 Mike

Who:

Reagan Lee Hartley, 22, from Willow Spring, was killed around 10:30 PM on 4/23/14 between Patterson St. and Wendover Avenue on I-40 in Greensboro, NC. Hartley drove a 1997-era silver Volvo C70 and was hit by Ronnie Fichera, 46, from South Boston, VA, who drove a 1997-era green Ford Expedition. Hartley was a senior at Western Carolina University, where she was studying early elementary education, and was due to graduate in May after completing her student teaching.

How:

Hartley was eastbound on I-40 heading to her parents.’ She was impacted by Fichera, who was headed westbound in the eastbound lanes at an estimated 80-90 mph in an effort to evade police. He was reportedly impaired and carrying an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. Hartley died en route to the hospital, while Fichera was listed in critical condition.

Why:

This is another tragic case involving drunk driving, which is implicated in 1 of every 3 fatal traffic incidents in the US. Fichera, per reports, first began acting strangely around 10:05 at a Subway, where he displayed aggressive and erratic behavior. He left, was approached by officers, and drove off when asked to leave his vehicle. A pursuit occurred but was called off when Fichera entered I-40 in the wrong lane of traffic. Shortly after, the collision occurred.

Investigating the physics of the crash, it is not surprising that Hartley died while Fichera lived, as her vehicle was massively outweighed by his. The 1997-era C70 weighs ~3200 lbs and we’ll assume it came with a “good” frontal score, being a Volvo. It was impacted by a 1997-era Expedition that weighs ~4826 lbs, or 51% of the C70’s weight. As a result, the C70 driver automatically faced 151% more force in the collision than she would have if she’d collided with another C70, placing her at a severe disadvantage in the collision. Fichera, meanwhile, experienced 33% lower forces due to his weight advantage.

Given the likely speeds of the collision (~85 mph), the collision likely imparted at least 1.58MJ of energy into the C70. The C70 frontal impact test, had one existed, would have simulated 232KJ of energy (a C70 impacting another at 40 mph). In other words, the C70 driver faced 681% of the force she’d have experienced in the type of crash her car would have been rated for. Given the speed of the collision, her odds of survival were, sadly, virtually non-existent.

The Expedition’s frontal test, had one existed, would simulate 350KJ of energy (an Expedition impacting another at 40 mph), indicating that its driver would have faced 300% of the forces his SUV was rated to safely withstand, given that the C70 imparted 1.05MJ of energy into the Expedition. While these were still tremendous forces, his odds of survival were still much better than those of the C70’s driver, and this was reflected in his survival in critical condition.

This was ultimately a wholly preventable tragedy, as are so many of these stories.

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