Tag Archives: underride victim

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

UPDATE March 13, 2026: Hundreds of people die every year when pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and occupants of passenger vehicles go under trucks. Please consider joining a STOP Underrides National Town Hall via Zoom April 15 | 8 – 9 pm ET |RSVP HERE

Your voice at this unique advocacy gathering will let your U.S. Senators and Representative know that you want them to pass the STOP Underrides Act of 2026.

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.

In Memory of Justin Shoopman (December 1, 2020)

UPDATE March 13, 2026: Hundreds of people die every year when pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and occupants of passenger vehicles go under trucks. Please consider joining a STOP Underrides National Town Hall via Zoom April 15 | 8 – 9 pm ET |RSVP HERE

Your voice at this unique advocacy gathering will let your U.S. Senators and Representative know that you want them to pass the STOP Underrides Act of 2026.

State police say they responded to a crash between a tractor-trailer and a car near mile marker 28 just before 5:00 a.m. Monday morning.

Troopers say the semi driver lost control and hit a 1998 Toyota driven by 58-year-old Justin Shoopman. Shoopman was pronounced dead at the scene by the Laurel County Coroner’s Office. Man dead after Laurel County crash

Icy roads possible factors in two fatal accidents on I-75 within two hours

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.

Justin Shoopman, 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 George Martin (December 1, 2020)

UPDATE March 13, 2026: Hundreds of people die every year when pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and occupants of passenger vehicles go under trucks. Please consider joining a STOP Underrides National Town Hall via Zoom April 15 | 8 – 9 pm ET |RSVP HERE

Your voice at this unique advocacy gathering will let your U.S. Senators and Representative know that you want them to pass the STOP Underrides Act of 2026.

KSP says 40-year-old Boban Colic, of Phoenix, Arizona, was driving a semi south on I-75 when he lost control, crossed the median, and crashed into a pickup truck, driven by 25-year-old George E. Martin, of Williamsburg, Kentucky.

The coroner pronounced Martin dead on the scene. Man dead after semi loses control on I-75, crashes into pickup 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.

George Martin, 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 Justin Folsome (November 24, 2020)

UPDATE March 13, 2026: Hundreds of people die every year when pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and occupants of passenger vehicles go under trucks. Please consider joining a STOP Underrides National Town Hall via Zoom April 15 | 8 – 9 pm ET |RSVP HERE

Your voice at this unique advocacy gathering will let your U.S. Senators and Representative know that you want them to pass the STOP Underrides Act of 2026.

Campos was arrested following a November 24 crash on S.R. 85 near Buckeye, Arizona, that killed Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detention officer Justin Folsome.

Police say that Campos was driving northbound on S.R. 85 when he failed to slow for traffic stopped at a light, striking vehicles at speeds of 55 m.p.h. His truck hit Folsome’s car first, then pushed the car into two other vehicles.

Folsome died as a result of the crash. Truck driver in crash that killed Arizona sheriff’s officer had license, log book problems, police say

MCSO detention officer dies in traffic wreck

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.

Justin Folsome, 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.

NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF STOP UNDERRIDES AND ADVOCACY FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY

In Memory of Manuela Gonzalez (November 29, 2020)

UPDATE March 13, 2026: Hundreds of people die every year when pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and occupants of passenger vehicles go under trucks. Please consider joining a STOP Underrides National Town Hall via Zoom April 15 | 8 – 9 pm ET |RSVP HERE

Your voice at this unique advocacy gathering will let your U.S. Senators and Representative know that you want them to pass the STOP Underrides Act of 2026.

A woman died after her car struck the rear of a tractor-trailer on U.S. 59 near Ganado Sunday evening.

Manuela Gonzalez, of Sullivan City, was traveling north when her 2015 Buick LaCrosse crashed into a produce delivery truck about 7:56 p.m. Sunday, said Sgt. Ruben San Miguel, spokesman with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Gonzalez failed to observe that the tractor-trailer was driving at a reduced speed and hit the rear of the trailer, San Miguel said. She was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Woman dies in highway crash near Ganado Sunday night

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.

Manuela Gonzalez, 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 Ashley Steele & Leslie Lewis (November 20, 2020)

UPDATE March 13, 2026: Hundreds of people die every year when pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and occupants of passenger vehicles go under trucks. Please consider joining a STOP Underrides National Town Hall via Zoom April 15 | 8 – 9 pm ET |RSVP HERE

Your voice at this unique advocacy gathering will let your U.S. Senators and Representative know that you want them to pass the STOP Underrides Act of 2026.

Two people died last week after their vehicle struck a tractor-trailer as it backed into a private driveway in Jackson County, authorities said.

The crash happened on Arkansas 367 at Jackson County 307 just before 7:45 p.m. on Nov. 20, according to an Arkansas State Police preliminary crash report. A Land Rover headed south hit the driver’s side of a tractor-trailer while it backed into a private driveway to park, the report states.

Troopers said the Land Rover’s driver, 20-year-old Ashley Steele of Bradford, and a passenger, 28-year-old Leslie Lewis of Newport, died as a result of the wreck. Troopers: 2 die in Jackson County after vehicle strikes 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.

Ashley Steele & Leslie Lewis, 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.

In Memory of Zachary Plantz (November 26, 2020)

UPDATE March 13, 2026: Hundreds of people die every year when pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and occupants of passenger vehicles go under trucks. Please consider joining a STOP Underrides National Town Hall via Zoom April 15 | 8 – 9 pm ET |RSVP HERE

Your voice at this unique advocacy gathering will let your U.S. Senators and Representative know that you want them to pass the STOP Underrides Act of 2026.

Zachary Plantz, 27, the driver of a Mercedes vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to Naples PD.  

It was determined the Mercedes was traveling south on U.S. 41 when it collided with the rear of a semi-truck that was making a U-turn from the north bound lanes onto the southbound lanes in the intersection, according to Naples PD.  Illinois man killed in Thanksgiving crash on U.S. 41 in Naples after running into back of semi-truck

Adviser to Congressman Dan Lipinski killed in Florida crash on Thanksgiving

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.

Zachary Plantz, 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.

Truck Driver Mistakes Don’t Excuse Industry & Government Negligence To Solve Underride Problem

Thanksgiving Eve, another apparent underride victim lost her life: A truck driver is being investigated for his role in a deadly crash Wednesday night at a rural Fresno County intersection, according to the California Highway Patrol. . . The driver of a sedan was eastbound on Lincoln when the truck driver appeared to fail to see the car approaching and entered the intersection directly in the sedan’s path, according to CHP. . . The sedan struck the left side of the big rig’s trailer and the driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. She was identified Thursday as Lorene Negrete, 57. . .

The driver of the truck, 29-year-old Pardeep Kumar of Fremont, has cooperated with the investigation but likely will face a charge of vehicular manslaughter, according to the CHP. Update: Truck driver may face manslaughter charge in deadly Fresno County crash, CHP says

Though the truck driver may have made a mistake, not all the blame rests with him for a crash which might have had a different outcome with effective underride protection. Carriers, trailer manufacturers, DOT, & Congress can make these kinds of truck crashes more survivable.