WISCONSIN S DEADLIEST CRASH. What Happened on I-43? I

Transcription

1 WISCONSIN S DEADLIEST CRASH What Happened on I-43? I

2 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH Historical Context By the Numbers On the Scene Aftermath

3 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH HISTORICAL CONTEXT 5:00 AM, Sunday, 5/30/37 STH 42, southwest of Manitowoc 2 vehicles collided head-on 3 of 4 killed in one vehicle 6 of 7 killed in other vehicle TOTAL: 9 dead, 2 injured

4 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH HISTORICAL CONTEXT 7/27/40 Richland County 8 dead 7/2/60 Sauk County 7 dead 8/9/80 Dodge County 7 dead 2/12/97 Washington County 8 dead 3/25/99 Rock County 7 dead

5 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH BY THE NUMBERS 7:21 AM, Friday, 10/11/02 I-43 Southbound Sheboygan County (near Ozaukee Co line)

6 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH BY THE NUMBERS 50 vehicles damaged or destroyed 66 vehicle occupants at risk of injury 10 people died 39 others injured, including 8 seriously

7 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH BY THE NUMBERS 66 occupants ranged in age from 8 to males; 18 females; 3 unknown 3 drivers left the scene 22 people transported to hospitals, all survived 10 people died on scene

8 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH BY THE NUMBERS 44 occupants reported wearing seatbelts 8 not wearing seatbelts Belt use unknown for 14, including all 10 fatally injured victims

9 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH BY THE NUMBERS Air bags deployed to protect 8 occupants No air bag deployed for 17 occupants 25 occupants had no air bags available Air bag deployment unknown for 16 occupants, including 10 fatally injured victims

10 WISCONSIN S S DEADLIEST CRASH BY THE NUMBERS Most victims within 20 miles of home Most victims familiar with the highway Most victims on way to or from work

11 LOST AT CEDAR GROVE Husband/father of two Father and his son Widower/father of three Daughter/girlfriend Son/father of one Son/brother Wife/mother Husband/father of five Father

12 WISCONSIN S DEADLIEST CRASH On the Scene

13 Wisconsin State Patrol I-43 Crash Reconstruction

14 Thank You Orange Cross Ambulance Oostburg Ambulance Cedar Grove First Responders Random Lake Ambulance Plymouth Ambulance Plymouth Fire Department Ambulance Sheboygan County Sheriff Adell Fire Department Silver Creek Fire Department Kohler Fire Department Fredonia Fire Department Port Washington Fire Department Sheboygan County Haz-Mat Team Kewaskum Fire Department Ambulance Red Cross Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center Cedar Grove Fire Department Random Lake Fire Department Belgium Fire Department Wisconsin State Patrol Oostburg Fire Department Town of Sheboygan Fire Department Town of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department City of Sheboygan Fire Command Staff Saukville Ambulance Town of Sheboygan First Responders Town of Sheboygan Falls First Responders Kiel Fire Department Ambulance Ozaukee County Sheriff St. Mary s s Hospital Valley View Medical Center St. Nicholas Hospital

15 Accident Scene

16 Crash Scene (Map) Crash Area

17 Collision Information Location: I-43 Southbound,.4 mile north of Pebble Beach Road, Town of Holland, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Date: October 11, 2002 Vehicles Involved: 50 Injuries: 39 Fatalities: 10

18 Weather Conditions Temperature: 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit Dew Point: 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit Horizontal visibility: Reported < 100 feet Relative Humidity: 97% to 100% Skies: Clear Wind Speed: 0 mph Fog: Radiation (also known as ground fog)

19 1st cellular 911 notification at 07:18:32

20 Initial emergency dispatch

21 First report from the scene

22 Command requesting more resources

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24 First accident encountered

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26 Additional accidents encountered Then, after 19 cell phone calls

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28 Accidents in north bound I-43 lane Hazardous Materials involvement

29 Other accidents reported

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49 Media coverage

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52 Aerial view of scene looking south Top of scene is Ozaukee/Sheboygan Line Center is main fire scene Lower portion is beginning of crash scene

53 Mile marker 111 Fire scene Rollover Car/Semi crash

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76 Scale Diagram of Scene

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78 Evidence Collection To properly document the scene and evidence, State Patrol Crash Reconstructionists relied on several techniques to collect data including: 1. Forensic Mapping Total Station Diagram Generation 2. Photography At scene Aerial photography At impound facility 3. Crash Data Retrieval System

79 Forensic Mapping Crash Scene Two (2) Total Stations were utilized to map Sheboygan County crash scene. Survey Statistics: 1653 total scene and vehicle data points. Scene length: approx ft. Crash Zone drawing software used to diagram scene.

80 Forensic Mapping Crash Scene Scaled damage profiles diagrammed for all involved vehicles.

81 Forensic Mapping Crash Scene Scaled diagrams then completed for primary crash areas.

82 Forensic Mapping Crash Scene Plotters used to print large-scale diagrams for collision reconstruction, analysis, and news conferences.

83 Photography Vehicles and scene extensively documented through photographs and photo logs. Vehicles also photographed and detailed at impound facility.

84 Photography Vehicle undercarriages also photographed to assist in determining a fire source.

85 Photography Overhead photos taken of each involved vehicle using a cherry picker bucket truck. These photographs allow vehicle damage profiles to be seen.

86 Photography Overhead photograph and CAD scaled damage profile diagrammed by reconstructionists.

87 Aerial Photography State Patrol aircraft have been used to help find lost persons, vehicles, and in drug interdiction. Crash reconstructionists utilize aerial photographs for evidence documentation and scene overviews.

88 Aerial Photography Example By showing advance warning signs, aerial photography was used in this Kewaunee County case to prove criminal negligence. STOP Casco / Brussels STOP AHEAD JCT C

89 Sheboygan Crash Aerial Photos On October 11 th, State Patrol Pilot Dennis McConnell was dispatched to Sheboygan County for aerial photographs. A private company also deployed fixed-wing aircraft to take pictures of the scene. Offered digital and plotted images to the State Patrol at a cost in excess of $900.00

90 Sheboygan Crash Aerial Photos Photographs taken from the State Patrol aircraft were used by reconstructionists for documentation.

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93 Crash Data Retrieval System In 2001, the Wisconsin State Patrol purchased the Vetronix Crash Data Retrieval System. CDR System allows reconstructionists to access crash data from vehicle Event Data Recorders. System was utilized during Sheboygan crash investigation.

94 Sample Sheboygan CDR Data Driver of Impala stated she was traveling very slowly when she was hit from behind. CDR download confirmed driver s s statement.

95 Sample Sheboygan CDR Data

96 WSP I-43 I Crash Reconstruction 50 Vehicles Involved 10 People killed 40 People Injured 10 Emergency Service agencies involved 31 State Patrol personnel 2 Total Stations/4 Recon 1653 measurements taken

97 I. Media challenges Intensity of media coverage Location of crash Between two largest media markets in Wisconsin Green Bay and Milwaukee Three major groups involved Traveling public commuters and tourists Crash occurred during peak travel time on a major tourist route. Friends and families of the victims Law enforcement and rescue personnel

98 II. Crash study I-43 weather related crash data Number of crashes Not listed CLEAR CLOUDY SNOW RAIN SLEET WIND FOG

99 II. Crash study Fog related crashes by county 7 6 Sheboygan Manitowoc Brown Ozaukee 6 13

100 II. Crash study Fog related crash data Other contributing factors 5 involved drivers influenced by alcohol 18 were during dawn/dusk/dark conditions 22 involved icy or wet road conditions Types of crashes 22 were single vehicle accidents 6 were rear end collisions 3 were same direction side collisions 1 was an angle collision

101 II. Crash study In conclusion Findings Not an unusually high number of crashes on this segment of I-43I Fog is not a major factor in crashes that do occur As a result Signs or flashers would not necessarily prevent crashes If signs are too prevalent, people will begin to ignore them. Closing the road is a last resort that is not recommended Law enforcement should have final say

102 Today

103 What did we learn 1. Needed common multi-casualty plan 2. Needed common incident command procedure 3. Needed common communication procedure 4. Needed common accountability system Patients Personnel 5. Needed common MCI response equipment 6. Needed cache of supplies 7. Needed joint training and exercise programs

104 Questions