Tag Archives: underride

In Memory of Kimberly Cannon (September 9, 2020)

Underride Crash Map

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.

Troopers say Kimberly Cannon, 35, of Shreveport was westbound when a tractor-trailer driven by Rickey Darden, 58, of Parkin Cross, Ark. failed to reduce his speed as he approached traffic congestion.

Investigators say the Darden’s 18-wheeler hit Cannon’s SUV causing her vehicle to hit another tractor-trailer and overturn.

Cannon was pronounced dead at the scene. Shreveport woman killed in I-20 near Dixie Inn

https://www.si.com/hockey/news/were-going-to-miss-that-smile-cooper-maroon-enter-game-3-with-heavy-hearts

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 — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries

Kimberly Cannon, Precious One Gone Too Soon

See underride tragedies at Underride Crash Memorials and #STOPunderrides. 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.

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 Louis Chrisovechotis (September 3, 2020)

Underride Crash Map,

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 28-year-old Connecticut man who rear-ended a tractor-trailer on Interstate 395 near Exit 53 on Thursday died on the scene, state police said.

The crash happened shortly before 12:50 p.m., when Louis Chrisovechotis of the Dayville section of Killingly, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe north behind a rig.

The SUV struck the back of the truck, they said. Chrisovechotis was pronounced dead at the scene. Connecticut man killed in northbound I-395 crash in Thompson

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 — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries

Louis Chrisovechotis, Precious One Gone Too Soon

See underride tragedies at Underride Crash Memorials and #STOPunderrides. 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.

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 Manhem Vincente-Candelario (September 3, 2020)

Underride Crash Map,

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.

Manhem Vincente-Candelario, of Winchester, died from the injuries at the scene of the crash...

Vincente-Candelario was driving a 2004 Acura TL when he entered I-81 in the wrong direction and collided head-on with a 2014 Volvo tractor-trailer traveling southbound. . . Winchester man dies in two-vehicle crash on Interstate 81

Seatbelts, airbags, and car crumple zones do not function as intended in underride crashes — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.

Manhem Vincente-Candelario, Precious One Gone Too Soon

See underride tragedies at Underride Crash Memorials and #STOPunderrides. 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.

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 Julia Patton and Jaylie Gray (September 9, 2020)

Underride Crash Map,

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.

Troopers said a 2017 International tractor-trailer was stopped in the northbound travel lane as the driver prepared to make a right turn. That’s when 27-year-old Julia Patton, of Carthage, Texas, slammed her 2017 Jeep SUV into the rear of the 18-wheeler. . .

Patton and her front-seat passenger, identified as 18-year-old Jaylie Gray of Galveston, Texas, were unrestrained and suffered fatal injuries. . .

A third passenger in Patton’s vehicle, who was also unrestrained, sustained serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital. http://www.westcentralsbest.com/news/state/unrestrained-driver-passenger-killed-in-desoto-crash/article_cf7f2c8a-751a-54a8-9cd4-5382816ece1d.html

Seatbelts, airbags, and car crumple zones do not function as intended in underride crashes — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.

Julia Patton and Jaylie Gray, Precious Ones Gone Too Soon

See more underride tragedies at Underride Crash Memorials and #STOPunderrides. To add 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.

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 Ana Beatriz Cruz-Bonilla (September 5, 2020)

Underride Crash Map,

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 33-year-old Washington, D.C. woman was killed Saturday after her vehicle was hit from behind on Interstate 95 by a tractor-trailer that came upon stopped traffic and lost control, striking the guardrail and then two vehicles, according to Virginia State Police.

The crash occurred at 10:11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at the 161 mile marker, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said in a news release.

The tractor-trailer was traveling south when the driver came upon stopped traffic and lost control, ran off the left side of I-95, struck the guardrail and then continued down the shoulder, scraping the guardrail and striking two cars.

. . . the driver of the Hyundai, Ana Beatriz Cruz-Bonilla, 33, of Washington, D.C., and her passenger were transported to Sentara Hospital in Woodbridge.

Cruz-Bonilla succumbed to her injuries. The passenger is being treated for serious injuries. . . https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/updated-33-year-old-d-c-woman-killed-after-tractor-trailer-fails-to-stop-strikes/article_cdf7c7c2-efb5-11ea-85e8-03270ee30f63.html

Seatbelts, airbags, and car crumple zones do not function as intended in underride crashes — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.

Ana Beatriz Cruz-Bonilla, Precious One Gone Too Soon

See underride tragedies at Underride Crash Memorials and #STOPunderrides. 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

How You Can Help

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.

Ignoring Underride Problem Discards Years of Automotive Crashworthiness Efforts

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , ,

Perry Ponder, who first brought the 1969 DOT discussion of side underride protection to my attention in 2016 and has invented the AngelWing side guard, recently submitted another Public Comment to NHTSA. He addresses industry concerns about side guards — providing thorough documentation.

IIHS Side Guard Crash Test, March 20, 2017

An excerpt of Ponder’s 2020 comments: Continuing to allow truck and trailer induced PCI in rear and side underride crashes to occur at otherwise survivable crash speeds (delta-V’s of 45mph and beyond) discards years of crashworthiness efforts and wastes the safety benefits we have come to expect and pay for in our cars.

From an engineering perspective the need for vehicle crash compatibility in the form of adequate heavy truck underride guarding is apparent in order to protect against the hazard of PCI which exposes the vulnerable head and neck region to severe, potentially fatal or crippling injury. This hazard is easily remedied by readily available materials and simple structural analysis. Read more here.

Here is Perry’s 2016 Public Comment in which he asked for NHTSA to extend underride protection to the sides of trucks and mentioned that it was the original intent of the underride rulemaking in 1969. This is what the Federal Highway Administration said at that time,

It is anticipated that the proposed standard will be amended, after technical studies have been completed, to extend the requirement for underride protection to the sides of large vehicles.

Imagine! In 1969.

Here is that 1969 document:

1969 NPRM, Docket No. 1-11; Notice 2
1969 NPRM, Docket No. 1-11; Notice 2 p.2

This was the original intent of NHTSA rulemakers in the 1969 NPRM, Docket No. 1-11; Notice 2. 

How You Can Help

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , ,

June 18, 2020, CALL TO ACTION

When a vehicle goes under a big truck, it’s called an underride crash.  This type of crash is extremely dangerous and completely preventable. Installing better guards on big trucks would prevent this type of crash.

There is an Infrastructure Bill being considered by the House Transportation & Infrastucture Committee called the INVEST in America Act which includes underride legislation. We are also waiting for the Senate Commerce Committee to introduce their version of an Infrastructure Bill soon. We are hoping it will include underride legislation.

Become part of the solution by sending an email TODAY to U.S. Legislators in Congress. Tell them that you want them to support Underride Legislation in the Infrastructure Bill.

Members of the U.S. Congress
U.S. Senators – Get contact information for your Senators in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Representatives – Find the website and contact information for your Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. Find your Rep by zip here.

You can also tag them on a Tweet. Use these hashtags: #STOPunderrides #UnderrideVictimsMatter.

Thank you for taking action. Share this message with your friends so we can make a significant impact at a crucial time.

Truck Safety Call to Action

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , , , , ,

Finally, we’re getting someplace in our efforts to make trucking safer. Legislation is being considered which looks promising to address the issues from our AnnaLeah & Mary Stand Up For Truck Safety Petition in 2014.

You can become part of the solution by making a quick phone call or send an email to U.S. Representatives on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I). They will be considering the INVEST in America Act on Wednesday, June 17, at 10:00 a.m. in a live hearing.

Use this website link to search for your U.S. Representative, or ones from your state who are on the T&I Committee. Send these two simple messages in your own words — asking them to make trucking safer by:

  • Supporting the Cohen Amendment 089 to strengthen the Underride legislation in the INVEST in America Act by directing NHTSA to do a pilot program in order to prove that underride protection is effective and technically feasible.
  • Supporting the Garcia Amendment 062 which will raise the Minimum Insurance Liability for truck companies from $750,000 – an amount set in 1980 – to $2 million in a simple adjustment for inflation. This needed change has been neglected for decades and will help not only truck crash victims but also truck drivers, who are often victims of truck crashes. It creates a financial incentive to enforce safety.

Watch this short video which vividly tells the story of Mike, a truck crash victim who was impacted by the woefully-low insurance requirement:

Thank you for taking action. Share this message with your friends so we can make a significant impact at a crucial time.

Sign a Letter of Support for the SaferTruck Underride Safety Initiative

AnnaLeah and Mary, Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , ,

In order to encourage trucking companies to buy and drive safer trucks, AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety has created decals to affix to trucks which have installed a stronger rear guard and/or added side guards — thereby meeting safety standards for rear and side underride protection, as spelled out in the STOP Underrides Bill.

In hopes that this recognition of fleet safety leadership will help to prevent the loss of other precious lives, we launched this program on May 4, 2020 –remembering our loss of AnnaLeah and Mary in an underride crash seven years earlier on May 4, 2013.

You can endorse this underride safety initiative by signing a Letter of Support here:

AnnaLeah & Mary Karth. . . Would they think this was an AWESOME idea?

Safer Trucks To Receive Commemorative Awards For Contribution to Safer Roads

AnnaLeah and Mary, Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , , , , , , , , ,
Jerry attached the first SaferTruck Bono Award to a trailer in the process of being upfitted with a Rear Reinforcement Attachment and a full-length side guard system.

In order to encourage trucking companies to buy and drive safer trucks, AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety has created decals to affix to trucks which have installed a stronger rear guard and/or added side guards — thereby meeting safety standards for rear and side underride protection, as spelled out in the STOP Underrides Bill.

In hopes that this recognition of fleet safety leadership will help to prevent the loss of other precious lives, we are launching this program on May 4, 2020, as we remember our loss of AnnaLeah and Mary in an underride crash seven years ago on May 4, 2013.

The SaferTruck System Bono Award is for trucks on which a stronger rear underride guard has been installed to prevent underride deaths at the rear of trucks. We chose this name in reference to the patron saint, Beuno or Bono (Latin, bonus = good), known for the protection of children  — using the image of Mary’s beloved stuffed toy St. Bernard, Gertie.

Statue of Mary’s Gertie at the girls’ gravesite
Mary with her beloved Gertie in 2012

The SaferTruck System Christopher Award is for trucks which have had side guards installed to prevent underride deaths at the sides. We chose this name in reference to the patron saint/advocate of travelers, Christopher — keeping in mind AnnaLeah’s love of medieval history and dragons.

Dragon statue at the gravesite
AnnaLeah’s stuffed toy dragon
AnnaLeah with her nephew
AnnaLeah with her niece and nephew, 2012
Mary and her Gertie in a photoshoot by her sister Susanna, circa 2010

With special thanks to Mary & AnnaLeah’s brother, Isaac Karth, who created the designs for these two SaferTruck System awards.

Safer Trucks Receive Commemorative Awards for Contribution to Safer Roads flipbook

SaferTruck System Awards Program brochure

Sign a Letter of Support for the SaferTruck System Awards Program