Monthly Archives: December 2020

In Memory of Nathaniel Thurman (December 17, 2020)

Underride Crash Map, , ,

Nathaniel Thurman, 50, was driving a GMC Terrain. Police said his car ran into the back of a tractor trailer, which was parked on the right shoulder of the southbound lanes. Norfolk man dies in Fairfax crash with tractor-trailer

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.

Nathaniel Thurman, Precious One Gone Too Soon

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.

How You Can Help

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.

In Memory of Karen Goulding (December 14, 2020)

Underride Crash Map, , ,

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.

Karen Goulding, Precious One Gone Too Soon

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.

How You Can Help

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.

In Memory of Courtney Graffunder (December 14, 2020)

Underride Crash Map, , ,

Courtney Graffunder, 21, of Sac City, died as a result of a traffic accident that occurred at 8:52 a.m. on December 14 on Highway 71 north of Early.

Graffunder was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Camero north on the highway and failed to stop for a semi tractor-trailer that was stopped on the roadway, waiting to turn left into the driveway at 1887 Highway 71. Graffunder’s vehicle struck the rear of the trailer. Sac City woman dies after striking rear of semi-trailer with her vehicle

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.

Courtney Graffunder, Precious One Gone Too Soon

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.

How You Can Help

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.

In Memory of Michael Brandt (December 8, 2020)

Underride Crash Map, , ,

Authorities say Michael Brandt, 69, was driving north in an SUV when he crossed over the center line and struck the side of a Peterbilt Tractor, which was hauling lumber, coming the other direction.

Brandt died from his injuries, according to the State Patrol. Man dies in Itasca County crash with logging truck

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.

Michael Brandt, Precious One Gone Too Soon

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.

How You Can Help

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.

In Memory of Shirley Scott (December 8, 2020)

Underride Crash Map, , ,

The Virginia State Police confirmed Wednesday that Shirley J. Scott, 61, of Milton, N.C., died at the scene of a 2-vehicle crash on Tuesday in Pittsylvania County.

The department said Scott failed to stop at a posted stop sign while traveling on Tom Fork Road at 12:45 p.m., and her 2004 Toyota Camry collided in the middle of the intersection with an R+L Carriers truck traveling southbound on Cane Creek Parkway.

The impact of the crash caused the Camry and the trailer of the semi-truck to catch fire. North Carolina woman confirmed as fatality in Tuesday’s crash with tractor-trailer

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.

Shirley Scott, Precious One Gone Too Soon

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.

How You Can Help

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.

In Memory of Timmy Hensley (December 7, 2020)

Underride Crash Map, , ,

The driver of the stolen tractor-trailer was reportedly driving erratically and fled from troopers, heading south on the highway with no headlights on.

THP reports the driver of the stolen commercial vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Highway 36 and Highway 75, then crossed the center line and hit a Saturn SL1 head on. . .

The driver of the Saturn, identified as Timmy Hensley, 60, of Johnson City, was killed in the crash. He had been wearing his seatbelt. THP: Johnson City man killed in crash involving stolen tractor-trailer on Kingsport Highway

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.

Timmy Hensley, Precious One Gone Too Soon

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.

How You Can Help

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.

In Memory of Terrel Thomas & Brianna Baxter (December 7, 2020)

Underride Crash Map, , ,

Officials identified the driver of the SUV, a male, and his female passenger as 26-year-old Terrel Thomas of Mobile and 21-year-old Brianna Baxter of Summerdale. They both died at the scene.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the tractor trailer was experiencing mechanical issues causing the driver to pull over on the shoulder of the roadway. While the tractor trailer was disabled, the SUV left the roadway and struck the trailer and became lodged under the trailer. Two dead following crash on I-65 South near Airport Boulevard identified

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.

Terrel Thomas & Brianna Baxter, Precious Ones Gone Too Soon

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.

How You Can Help

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.

“Chattanoga crash that killed 5 underscores bill to add protective barriers to semi trucks”

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , ,

Related post: Retrofit Solutions for Rear Impact Guards to Prevent Deadly Underride

“Chattanoga crash that killed 5 underscores bill to add protective barriers to semi trucks”

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , ,

Let’s make truck crashes more survivable!

Related post:Retrofit Solutions for Rear Impact Guards to Prevent Deadly Underride

Retrofit Solutions for Rear Impact Guards to Prevent Deadly Underride

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , , , , , ,

It is to their credit that nine U.S. trailer manufacturers have improved their rear underride guard design to meet the IIHS TOUGHGuard standard and seven of them are putting it on all new trailers as Standard. What that means is that they have surpassed the current federal standard and have been crash tested to show that they are more likely to prevent underride and catastrophic Passenger Compartment Intrusion (PCI) — thereby more likely to save lives when passenger vehicles rear end tractor-trailers.

See the difference between a too weak and a stronger guard:

Read more here: Recognizing good rear underride protection

Unfortunately, that does not help underride victims who crash into older models with too weak rear underride guards. Until the entire fleet has this stronger protection, people will continue to die from an engineering problem that has already been solved.

Underride Crash Memorials (the tip of the iceberg)

Thankfully, there are retrofit solutions available. This is what I know:

Note: When I called a local truck part company, the person with whom I talked knew nothing about improved rear guard retrofit parts. They were still selling the old model of generic horizontal bumper tubes. In other words, despite the availability of improved guards, many trucking companies are replacing damaged guards with the old model which can’t stop a car in an offset crash.