The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently published its report on the investigation of a fatal crash on I-70 near Goodland, Kansas.
The results confirm the necessity to implement 15 safety recommendations associated with the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements for fatigue, occupant protection, and collision avoidance, the board said.
On June 29, 2016, at about 2:15 a.m., a semitractor-trailer rear-ended a seven-passenger sport utility vehicle carrying 11 passengers. The SUV was traveling approximately 40 miles per hour while the semitractor-trailer was traveling at 75 miles per hour. Six of the passengers were killed, while the remaining five were injured.
The NTSB said the semitractor-trailer driver was fatigued and failed to act to avoid the crash. It also said the SUV driver should have used flashing hazard lights while driving at a reduced speed. Other factors included a lack of a collision avoidance system on the truck and overloading of the SUV.
“We view the implementation of these recommendations as vital to ensuring the safety of America’s transportation system,” Rob Molloy, director of the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety, said. “The longer it takes for NTSB safety recommendations to be implemented, the longer an identified safety need remains unaddressed, potentially threatening the safety of travelers and transportation workers.”