White Paper-NHTSA
A Case Study of 214 Fatal Crashes Involving Fire.
Carl L. Ragland
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Hsi-Sheng Hsia
Research and Special Programs Administration
United States
Paper Number 9X-S4-O-08
Carl L. Ragland
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Hsi-Sheng HsiaResearch and Special Programs Administration
United States
Paper Number 9X-S4-O-08
ABSTRACT
A detailed case study of 214 fatal tire related
crashes was conducted to determine whether the death was
caused by the fire or blunt trauma. The cases were also
examined to determine the specific crash conditions which
caused the fire. This analysis was necessary because none
of the existing fatal crash databases contained sufficient
details to determine the impact configuration or the cause
of death. Two hundred and ninety three (293) fatalities
occurred in these crashes. Sixty-five (65) ofthese fatalities
resulted from fire, with 30 of these fatalities from 16 rear
impacts. The speed of impact was determined in eight of
the 16 cases which caused these 30 burn fatalities. In these
eight cases, the average rear impact speed was 54 mph with
speeds ranging from 50 - 60 mph, at 7 1% overlap (7 1 % of
the rear vehicle width engaged), and collinear at 6:00
O’clock. By projecting these cases to the national sample,
the number of rear impact fire related fatalities may be
estimated between 94 and 191.