OSP noted in a press release that Karen Goulding (65) of Anthem, AZ–a passenger in the vehicle–was pronounced deceased at the scene, her husband, David Goulding (64) was transported via air ambulance.
The incident took place at about 11:00 am, the state police noted that troopers from the Bend Area Command and LaPine Outpost responded to a reported four vehicle crash that occurred on Highway 97 north of Chemult and near the Hwy 97 and Hwy 58 Junction in Klamath County.
It was discovered that a red 2020 Freightliner CMV operated by a 30-year-old male from Atwater California was traveling southbound and began to break for vehicles slowing in front of him. Due to winter weather conditions, the semi tractor-trailer slid and crossed over into the oncoming lane across the icy roadway and into the Gouldings’ 2016 Mercedes SUV. The trailer portion of the semi collided with the Mercedes. 65-year-old Arizona woman dies in crash with semi truck on Hwy 97 near Hwy 58 Junction
Because the bottom of a truck is higher than the bumper of passenger vehicles, when there is a collision the smaller vehicle easily slides under the truck and the first point of impact is the windshield. Seatbelts, airbags, and car crumple zones do not function as intended in underride crashes — front, side, and rear — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.
See Underride Crash Memorials posted here and at #STOPunderrides Tweets. To add photos or more information on this story or to add other underride crashes to be remembered, send an email to underridemap@gmail.com. Please use this Interactive Underride Crash Map Crash Location Input Form to provide us with accurate information . (Note: the map is currently not online; but we would keep the information for future updating and to aid in underride advocacy efforts.)
Support improving Underride Protection on trailers: Contact your legislators with this User-Friendly TAKE ACTION online tool.
Please sign this petition: Congress, Act Now To End Deadly Truck Underrides.
Note: In order to raise awareness and preserve the memories of underride victims — precious ones gone too soon — I have been writing memorial posts on what appear to me to be underride crashes. I am not a crash reconstructionist, and I do not have all the facts on these crashes; but underride should be investigated as a potential factor in truck crash injuries and deaths.
