1 Teen Dead, Several Injured after Church Van Overturns

From: Daily Journal

WAVERLY, Tenn. — "A Middle Tennessee church van returning from a youth outing overturned on an Interstate 40 off-ramp Thursday morning about 55 miles west of Nashville, killing a teenage girl and injuring several others."

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Note: We need someone to start tracking how many church van accidents are occurring per year.

Previous Post on Van Safety:

http://www.securityatchurch.com/2011/06/nhtsa-warning-on-hazards-of-15.html 

NHTSA Warning on the Hazards of 15-Passenger Vans

From: The United States Department of Transportation

"The newly released NHTSA research reinforces the fact that 15-passenger vans have a rollover risk that increases dramatically as the number of occupants increases to full capacity. In fact, the likelihood of a rollover when a van is fully loaded is about five times greater than when the vehicle contains only a driver. While an increased likelihood of rollover is present for other types of fully loaded passenger vehicles, it is most pronounced for 15-passenger vans."

Among the safety recommendations are the following:

• It is important that 15-passenger vans be operated by trained, experienced drivers.
• Insist that all occupants wear safety belts at all times. In fact, 76 percent of those who died in 15-passenger van rollovers nationwide in single vehicle crashes from 1990 to 2002 were not buckled up. An unrestrained 15-passenger van occupant involved in a single vehicle crash is about three times as likely to be killed as a restrained occupant.
• If possible, have passengers and cargo forward of the rear axle and avoid placing any loads on the roof.
• Check your tires: Excessively worn or improperly inflated tires can lead to a loss-of-control situation and a rollover. At least once a month, check that the vans tires are properly inflated and the tread is not worn down.

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Van Packed With Church Members Crashes, Killing 5

Associated Press: "A van full of church members heading home from a Bible class veered off a northeast Louisiana highway and hit a culvert, killing five people and injuring several others. The van crashed Wednesday night, and the van's driver, Joey McKan, 30, died yesterday from his injuries, making him the fifth victim, said police."

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Safety with Oversized Church Vans

Witnesses told police that the driver swerved off the road to the left shoulder, lost control in the snow, began to slide sideways, and then flipped into a ditch on the right side of the road.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100111/NEWS16/1110373/0/BUSINESS02 

This church has experienced its second major tragedy within six months. After a fire gutted their church facility the youth group was involved in a serious accident involving their church van. 


This is a good reminder to review some of the safety information related to large size vans! 

According to a report from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration posted by South Eastern Oklahoma State University the below facts apply to oversized vans:

~ 15-passenger vans have a increased rollover risk under certain conditions

~ The risk of rollover increases dramatically as the number of occupant’s increases from fewer than five occupants to over ten passengers.

~ 15-passenger vans (with 10 or more occupants) had a rollover rate in single vehicle crashes that is nearly 3 x the rate of those that were lightly loaded.

~ Loading 15-passenger vans causes the center of gravity to shift rearward and upward increasing the likelihood of rollover. Shift in the center of gravity will also increase the potential for loss of control in panic maneuvers.

~ It is important that the van be operated by experienced drivers, they should understand and be familiar with the handling characteristics of their vans, especially when fully loaded.

~ Institutions using 15-passenger vans should require seat belt use at all times.

~ Any load placed on the roof will be above the center of gravity of the vehicle and will increase the likelihood of rolling over.