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Published on Thursday, June 6, 2004
in the Stuart News
FORT PIERCE - The cause of a fatal rollover crash that killed nine grove workers and injured 10 others in April remains unknown.
But the odds were stacked against the van's passengers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which issued a warning about such 15-passenger vans this week. When the vans are fully loaded, they are five times more likely to roll over than when they have a single occupant. The van involved in April's crash, which occurred on Interstate 95 near the Orange Avenue exit, had 19 occupants.
The Florida Highway Patrol expects to give the results of its investigation to the State Attorney's Office in mid-June, according to spokesman Lt. Tim Frith.
"It takes a whole different set of skills to drive them," said Lt. Pat Santangelo, an FHP spokesman. "It's very common for those vehicles to overturn."
The danger increases when the vans are traveling at high speeds, and passengers who do not wear seat belts are much more likely to be killed or seriously injured, Santangelo said.
The NHTSA studies show that 76 percent of those people who die in 15-passenger van rollovers were not wearing seat belts. The chance of death is three times greater for those not wearing seat belts.
The NHTSA, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, issued similar warnings about the vans in 2001 and 2002.
The vans, often used by church groups, do not always have well-trained drivers, Santangelo said. "People who try to drive them are volunteers, and a lot of people drive them," he said.
Passenger vans are not the only vehicles prone to rollovers, Santangelo said. Sport utility vehicles, because they have higher centers of gravity, have also been in many rollover accidents.
Santangelo recalled an SUV accident in which the driver was not speeding but had a flat tire, which led to a rollover. Several people inside were not wearing seat belts and were killed in the crash, he said.
He advised wearing seat belts and watching speeds, especially on major highways and on windy days, because wind and speed can contribute to crashes.
Nationwide, there were 1,576 crashes involving 15-passenger vans between 1990 and 2002, according to the NHTSA. Of those, 349 were single-vehicle rollovers.
"It is vitally important that users of 15-passenger vans be aware of these risks," NHTSA Administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge said in a statement. "It is critical that users follow safety precautions to significantly reduce those risks."
Van safety tips
*Ensure driver is trained and experienced
*Insist all occupants wear seat belts
*Avoid placing loads on the roof
*Check tire pressure
*Keep passengers and cargo in front of the rear axle if possible
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration