Nathaniel Bowman, 24, was pronounced dead after the incident at approximately 3:43 a.m., according to the Mount Gilead Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Authorities stated that Bowman was operating a gray 2013 Honda Civic northbound on Interstate 71. He entered the northbound truck parking where he traveled onto the left shoulder, striking the rear of a parked semi tractor-trailer. Bowman’s vehicle then continued north where it struck the rear of another parked semi tractor-trailer.
The first semi tractor-trailer struck was a 2018 Utility 53’ enclosed trailer. . . The second semi tractor-trailer was a 2003 Great Dane 53’ enclosed trailer. Mount Gilead man killed in Friday morning I-71 crash
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.)
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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.
