Board investigating crash
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash that killed eight Utah State University students and an instructor to see if additional safety recommendations need to be made or reiterated nationwide.
The NTSB is comparing the Sept. 26 fatal rollover with two other 15-passenger van crashes that occurred in 2001 in North Carolina and Texas.
In the North Carolina accident, a church van carrying 13 teenagers rolled over, killing one and injuring 13. The accident occurred 30 miles south of Greensboro, N.C., when the group was traveling from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to Roanoke, Va.
Four people were killed and eight were seriously injured in the Texas accident. The church van crashed near the Oklahoma border on its way to Gainesville, Texas.
After the North Carolina and Texas accidents, the federal agency issued a report containing detailed recommendations for state governments, federal agencies and van makers on ways to improve safety.
Investigators determined that the probable causes in both accidents were tire failure, the drivers’ response to the failure and the drivers’ inability to maintain control of the vans.
The report said another contributing factor was the condition of the tires.
The tires were deteriorated because of a lack of tire maintenance and the handling characteristics of the van.
“This one in Utah seems to be similar. We’re going to find out the facts in this one and take a look at it in light of our report,” National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Paul Schlamm said.
The Utah Highway Patrol said their investigation suggests the Utah State University van was traveling between 95 and 100 mph when they rolled over, killing nine. Witnesses to the accident told police the van was passing another vehicle when the left tire blew and then the van crashed.
John Devilbiss, USU spokesman and executive director of public relations and marketing, said the NTSB is interested in how the wreck could have occurred when drivers are required to complete a drivers’ training class.
He said they are also questioning communication between the federal government and the state regarding warnings and information dealing with vans.
“It’s more of a communication question even more than a mechanical question. They are adamant about wanting to see how things are being communicated from the federal government to the state,” Devilbiss said.
He also said, “There was a disconnection between what they had and what we had.”
Dave Cowley, USU executive director of administration, said the NTSB is trying to learn how to successfully communicate with the public to prevent similar accidents from occurring.
“They don’t have enforcement power. They are a federal agency that can make recommendations to manufacturers and also influence legislation,” Cowley said.
It will be several months before federal investigators finish their report on the Utah accident.
It is not yet known how comprehensive the report will be, Schlamm said. It could be only a comparison with the other similar accidents.
It is possible the report will review previous recommendations, which include required training for van drivers and an endorsement on their driver’s license, installing seatbelts in the center seats and strengthening the roofs of the vans.
-ariek@cc.usu.edu