Kristin Poland, Ph.D., is the deputy director of NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety and oversees all investigations conducted by the office.
in the SUV because of a special investigation report on tire failures. Te SUV, a 2004 Kia Sorento, experienced a left rear tire tread sep- aration and rapid air loss or blow-out at high speed. Traveling at a witness-estimated speed of 70 mph at the time, the SUV driver lost control of the vehicle and impacted an on- coming 2005 IC Bus 66-passenger school bus, which was traveling about 55 mph at the time of impact.
Te primary impact occurred
between the left front of the SUV and the right front of the school bus. Tis impact was less severe for the school bus occupants because the school bus had the larger mass. A secondary impact occurred as the SUV rotated away from the school bus and impact- ed the right side of the bus. Damage to both vehicles can be seen in the bus and SUV 3D laser scan images (see Figures 1 and 2 on the next page). As with many high-speed impacts
between a larger and a smaller vehicle, the result was catastrophic for the SUV occupants. Four of the five SUV passengers died in the crash. Te occupants of the school bus were the
40-year-old driver, four adult coaches and 30 male high school baseball athletes. Te bus driv- er was wearing the available seat belt, and although none of the passenger seating positions were equipped with lap/ shoulder belts, the passengers re- mained in their seating compart- ments. As a result of the crash, the school bus driver sustained minor injuries. Tree of the adult coaches
were uninjured and one sustained minor injuries. Of the high school stu- dent-athletes, one sustained serious injuries including lumbar compression fractures, while 28 sustained minor injuries such as contusions, lacerations, sprains, and fractured noses. One student-athlete was uninjured. Fortunately, in this crash, additional injury data were also available that have not been available in the past.
Buck’s Since 1951
Buck’s Wheel & Equipment “We are the school bus parts specialists”
Buck’s Wheel & Equipment is your #1 source for School Bus Parts. Buck’s Wheel supplies all your major bus parts including Switches, Lights, Seats, Seat Covers, Bluebird, Tomas and also International parts. Please contact your sales representative for any further details and shipping.
Service Dept. • Collision Center • Parts Dept. • Spring Shop Serving the Industry for Over 65 Years.
5101 North Main Street Fort Worth, TX 76179
www.buckswheel.com
30 School Transportation News • MAY 2018
Bucks_BG17_HH.indd 1
Phone: 817-332-1228 Toll Free: 800-792-1011
11/30/16 3:29 PM
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