Tow Truck Driver Died When School Bus Was Struck by SUV

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Michigan Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (Project) (MIFACE) ; Michigan State University. Department of Medicine. Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Description:
  In Spring 2018, a tow truck driver in his 40s died when he was pinned against a tow truck lift fork and run over by a school bus tire when the bus was struck by an SUV traveling at a high rate of speed. Due to a flat tire, the bus driver pulled over onto to the shoulder near the entrance of an exit ramp. The decedent responded to the call and parked his truck approximately 8-10 feet in front of the school bus. The decedent was lying on the ground, looking under the bus trying to decide what equipment he would need to hook the bus to move it. An SUV traveling in the left lane abruptly veered right, swerving across the right and exit lanes, driving onto the shoulder. As the SUV attempted to reenter the freeway it struck the driver's side rear of the school bus, pushing it forward eight to ten feet. The bus pinned the decedent against the boom, the tire ran over and crushed him, and the bus spring shackle bolts struck him in the chest. He was declared dead at the scene. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS - Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include: 1. SUV driver allegedly impaired by alcohol and drugs lost vehicle control due to an abrupt lane change. 2. Empty school bus parked on shoulder of exit ramp on busy expressway. RECOMMENDATIONS - MIFACE investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should: 1. School districts and firms employing school bus drivers should develop a policy regarding stopping on an active roadway. 2. Tow truck operators should work in conjunction with law enforcement/emergency service providers to secure the work area prior to loading and securing a vehicle.
• Subjects:
  • Accident Prevention
  • Accidents
  • Accidents, Occupational
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Automobiles
  • Behavior
  • Education
  • Emergencies
  • Law Enforcement
  • Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities
  More +
• Keywords:
  • OSHA Region 5
  • Accident prevention
  • Accident analysis
  • Accidents
  • Injuries
  • Injury prevention
  • Traumatic injuries
  • Fatalities
  • Recommendations
  • Transportation
  More +
• FACE - NIOSH and State:
  FACE ; Motor Vehicles ; Other
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Subseries:
  State
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHSFACE18MI037
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059442
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2021-100135
• Citation:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 18MI037, 2020 Mar ; :1-12
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Michigan State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  48-49 - Transportation and Warehousing - (NAICS)
• Start Date:
  2005/07/01
• End Date:
  2026/06/30
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/164903/cdc_164903_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.17 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:615ea038954f5ef22d9d86f390a4c1d3fd7dc976bfb4c58700af647daa35a19bdc439ccd03f1b1ef514d3646ce288a9c23d86f764a2e73473343a30e1db425be