Investigators say the driver of a Chrysler Aspen SUV was southbound on the interstate. He drifted into the west shoulder for an unknown reason, and the car slammed into the back of an 18-wheeler truck.
The Chrysler was heavily damaged in the crash. The front portion of the minivan stayed stuck to the 18-wheeler, and the rest of the vehicle was seen a few yards south. . .
The CHP says the four victims killed have been identified as Lute Fekitoa, 43, Naomi Cook, 35, Adimada Fekitoa, 9, and Keola James (KJ) Cook, 13. Adimada was Lute’s daughter and KJ was Naomi’s son. Children among 4 killed in Fresno County crash with semi-truck; 3 others injured
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 could potentially 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.
