Earlier this week, when I heard news of little six year old Blake Stamper’s death, my heart melted.  In case you missed this horrific story, Stamper, and ten other children, ages 5 to 7,  were being transported home on Wednesday, June 29, 2005,  after a day of swimming at Alexander Springs.  The children were part of the day –care program affiliated with Central Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, known as A Child’s Place. 

The Orlando Sun-Sentinel reported that, driver, Katie Matthias, 20, lost control of the 2001 Chevrolet 15-passenger van that carried the children on a rain-slickened Florida road in Ocala National Forest.  Despite the fact that every child was wearing a seat belt, all were injured, and little Blake lost his life.

Although it is not clear why it happened, Troopers of the Florida Highway Patrol, who are still investigating the crash, reported that the van’s seats “came lose from the floor.” Stamper was partially ejected from the vehicle as it rolled.

In 2001, National Highway Traffic Safety  Administration (NHTSA) began to issue a warning about the dangers of 15-passenger vans, which are a favorite mode of transportation for youth groups, churches, and athletic teams.  It has since reiterated the warning, on a national basis, three more times in the past four years.

The Warning of NHTSA regarding 15-passenger vans is this: 

“Fifteen-passenger vans are more likely to be involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash than any other type of vehicle”  The reason, says NHTSA, is because these vehicles have a  "high center of gravity - particularly when fully loaded."

To reduce the risk of rollover, NHTSA makes these suggestions:

• Do not haul cargo on the roofs of these vans.  Doing so further heightens the center of gravity making the vehicles tip even easier than they ordinarily would.
  
  
• Reduce the load and keep it forward of the rear axle.  Some insurance companies are recommending that the van's rear seat be removed which reduces the maximum seating capacity.  NHTSA says that rollover risks increase dramatically when the number of occupants increases from fewer than five to more than ten.
  
  
• Drive with added caution and keep vans well maintained.  Pay particular attention to the condition of tires and make certain they are properly inflated.  When tire pressures are too high or too low, a vehicle’s handling characteristics can be adversely affected.  

For more information see the following articles:

New Safety Advisory on 15-Passenger Vans Issued
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NHTSA Restates Rollover Warning for Users of 15-Passenger Vans
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – May 26, 2005

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About Safe Collision Repairs

For more than ten years, David Williams of Wheelersburg, Ohio's Safe Collision Repairs has worked with consumers and attorneys in the tri-states of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia to expose unsafe auto repairs and maximize recovery on auto insurance claims. Some of the company's services include Post-Repair Inspections, Prepurchase Inspections, Auto Damage Assessments, Lemon Law Investigations, Expert Court Testimony and Diminished Value Calculations using an advanced version of Network Information Communication's WreckCheck program.

Inquiries can be directed to: Safe Collision Repairs David A. Williams Post Office Box 70 Wheelersburg, Ohio 45694 (740) 456-1111 (740) 355-4056

Disclaimer

The content expressed on this website and in the article above represents the opinions of David A. Williams. Williams is neither an attorney nor public insurance adjuster, but is an expert, consultant, and writer specializing in the field of automotive collision repair and valuations. The information provided herein is not intended to be a substitute for legal or insurance advice. Because collision repair is a continually evolving science, any text, materials or links found herein are provided without claim or guarantee to their accuracy or completeness.