VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY CRASH INVESTIGATION TEAM REPORT NO. 113--OCTOBER, 1979

Before dawn on 28 June 1979, a Ford Mustang two-door sedan collided with a parked stock transport tractor-semitrailer at approximately 100 mph, resulting in the death of the Ford driver, total loss of his vehicle, and extensive damage to the tractor-trailer. The 17-year-old driver, who was being pursued by a police vehicle, swerved from the left lane into the tractor-trailer without braking or defensive maneuvers. Probable cause of the accident was a combination of chronic and acute stress, marijuana, and fatigue. Suicide was a possible motive for the driver's actions. It was concluded that the tractor-trailer should have been removed completely from the interstate highway. Recommendations are offered concerning observance of the posted speed limit; stopping when signaled by a police officer; education for drivers on the effects of stress, fatigue, and drugs (marijuana); laws imposing a severe penalty for possession of marijuana in a vehicle; and non-emergency stopping of vehicles on highways.

• Corporate Authors:

  Virginia Department of Transportation Safety

  300 Turner Road
  Richmond, VA  United States  23225
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Pagination: 29 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash investigation; Drivers; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Marijuana; Stress (Psychology); Suicide; Teenage drivers
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390956
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: CIT-113, HS-028 021U
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 30 1984 12:00AM