Special Crash Investigation On-Site Alleged Unintended Acceleration Crash Investigation Vehicle: 2008 Kia Optima Location: Tennessee Crash Date: December 2015

This on-site investigation involved the police-reported allegation of an unintended acceleration of a 2008 Kia Optima that may have contributed to a severe front-to-rear crash with a stopped 2003 Ford Windstar. The crash occurred when the Kia approached the intersection at a high rate of speed and struck the rear plane of the Ford Windstar, which was stopped at a controlled intersection. The Ford Windstar was displaced through the intersection by the impact, and its front plane struck the front plane of a 2015 Ford F-150. At the time of the crash, the Kia was occupied by an 83-year-old belted female driver and a 75-year-old belted female in the front right position. The Ford Windstar was occupied by a 48-year-old belted male driver, a 45-year-old belted female in the front row right position, and twin 7-year-old males restrained in booster child restraint systems in the second row. Following the crash, the Kia driver was extricated from the vehicle and transported to a regional trauma center with police-reported incapacitating (A-level) injuries. She died at the hospital one day post-crash due to complications of her injuries. Additionally, both 7-year-old males from the Ford Windstar sustained fatal injuries. The special crash investigation (SCI) inspection of the Kia involved an assessment of the foot controls, documentation of the exterior and interior damage, identification of occupant contact points and passenger compartment intrusion, and an evaluation of the manual and supplemental restraint systems. The on-site activities also included the exterior documentation of the Ford Windstar and the Ford F-150. The crash site was also inspected and documented. A mechanical cause of the Kia’s unintended acceleration and high rate of speed was not identified through the course of the SCI inspection. A scan of the Kia for diagnostic trouble codes did not find any stored historical faults.

• Record URL:
  • https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812530
• Corporate Authors:

  Crash Research & Analysis, Incorporated

  P.O. Box 302
  Elma, NY  United States  14059

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 2018-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 43p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash causes; Crash characteristics; Crash investigation; Fatalities; Mechanical acceleration; Traffic crashes
• Identifier Terms: Kia automobile
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01670195
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT HS 812 530, CR16001
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-12-C-00269
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 24 2018 5:20PM