On Sunday evening, there was a fatal crash involving a church van in Wake County. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the wreck happened near Zebulon Road and Barham Siding Road at about 5:30 p.m. Very few details about this crash have been released, but we do know that there were multiple fatalities and at least 10 people were injured. Initial reports indicate that a church van and another car swerved to avoid hitting a deer. The church van rolled over, and both vehicles landed in a swampy area near the roadway. According to the church, a group of members took the van to drop off clothes and food to a children’s home.
U.S. Passenger Van Crash Facts
41 percent of the 509 15-passenger van occupants killed from 2007-2016 were ejected during the crash.
11 percent of fatal 15-passenger van rollover crashes are attributed to tire failure.
70 percent of the 15-passenger van occupants killed in crashes from 2007-2016 were unrestrained at the time of the crash.
Improving Passenger Van Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a variety of tips to help improve passenger van safety. First, they recommend that only experienced van drivers get behind the wheel. Also, the driver should always be well rested and have his or her full attention on the task of driving. Additionally, the driver should always be going at a safe speed for the current driving conditions.
Everybody in the van should be buckled up snugly at all times. The tire pressure should be checked before every single use, and spares should be replaced at the same time as the rest of the tires. More passengers than there are seat belts should never be allowed to ride in the van. Finally, no cargo should ever be placed on the roof or behind the rear axle, which can increase the risk of rollover crashes and rear tire blowouts.
Van Accidents in Asheville
12 and 15-passenger van accidents can be devastating, catastrophic and even fatal for occupants. These vehicles have a higher center of gravity than many other vehicles on the road, and they’re more likely to roll in the event of a crash.
At this time, there has been no word on the exact number of fatalities involved in the church van crash. The team at Davis Law Group, P.A. sends their deepest condolences to the family members, friends and loved ones of the deceased and wishes swift and full recoveries for those who were injured in the crash.