New study: Van only going 85

The university van involved in the Sept. 26, 2005 accident that killed eight students and one instructor may have been traveling at much lower speeds than originally thought.

Alan Edwards from the Utah Division of Risk Management said the van was most likely traveling between 80 and 90 miles per hour, according to a recent investigation the organization commissioned.

“Best estimate is 85 miles per hour,” he said. “Speed was an issue in the crash, but the main issue was that the [rear left] tire lost its tread.”

These findings differ dramatically from the Utah Highway Patrol’s original speed estimate of 95-100 miles per hour.

Edwards said the difference in estimation has to do with the method used to analyze the information gathered from the crash.

“It goes back to whether analysis tools are correct to be used in a situation where the tread comes off like this,” he said. “They were speeding, but nowhere in the 100 miles per hour range.”

Lt. Ed Michaud from the Utah Highway Patrol said the UHP is standing by its original estimation and that the tread coming off the tire was taken into account in their report. Michaud said UHP uses a method of determining the speed in a crash developed by Northwestern University.

The role of the Utah State Division of Risk Management is to function as an insurance company for state agencies and colleges, Edwards said, and the agency commissioned MRA Forensic Sciences to conduct the investigation. The report with the findings of the investigation is mainly for litigation purposes and has not been released.

Families of those hurt or killed in the accident are currently in mediation with the state, also a role of the Utah State Division of Risk Management.

John DeVilibiss, Utah State University spokesperson, said the families will not directly mediate with USU. DeVilbiss said the administration will have no response to the new findings until they can obtain a copy of the finished report.

-bnelson@cc.usu.edu