1. Driver Exits Burning Semi-Truck and Falls to His Death
Case No. 15KY030
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program

2. The Victim 52-year-old male. High school graduate.
Had been employed with company for 15 years.
Had been quoted as saying that he loved his job because it gave him the opportunity to travel throughout the country.
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program

3. The Employer Established in 2014
Was a small carrier with two tractor-trailers and two drivers.
Hauled freight, fresh produce, refrigerated food and paper products.
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program

4. The Scene
The scene was a southbound six-lane interstate bridge, built 250 feet above a major river. The stretch of roadway was straight with barrier walls on each side and in the middle to divide the interstate. The bridge had lighting for nighttime travel.
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program

5. Image of the bridge where the incident occurred (1).
The Scene
Image of the bridge where the incident occurred (1).
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program

6. Image of the bridge where the incident occurred (2).
The Scene
Image of the bridge where the incident occurred (2).
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program

7. Final resting place of truck, charred remains
The Incident
On June 8, 2015, at approximately 6:15 am, a semi-truck driver drove southbound on a major interstate, lost control on a bridge, and struck the right shoulder concrete barrier bridge wall. The vehicle rode the top of the barrier, which caused the passenger side fuel tank to rupture and catch fire. The vehicle came to rest several hundred feet down the roadway with the passenger side leaning over the bridge, continued to burn and then exploded.
Final resting place of truck, charred remains
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program

8. The Incident
Witnesses stated they felt heat from the fire five lanes away. The police arrived 15 minutes later. Once the fire was contained, the response team noticed there was no driver inside the cab of the tractor. After an extensive search, fire fighters discovered the victim’s body 170 feet below the bridge in a steep, wooded area next to the bank of the river (see figure 6A). The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Body discovered
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program
Aerial view of scene
Charred remains of cab

9. The Incident What caused this?
It’s believed that the truck driver may have in a panic tried to jump out of the passenger side door to escape the fire, unaware of his surroundings.
The incident occurred at dawn, so it is possible that the reduced visibility played a role.
The truck was equipped with dual-sided fuel tanks, which have been found to be more likely to ignite in a motor vehicle crash. The passenger side tank drug against the concrete barrier in the crash.
Exposed fuel tank
Stock photo of a Freightliner Columbia 120, the model of truck driven by the victim
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program

10. The Incident Contributing Factors? Known:
Positioning of duel fuel tanks
The driver died and the truck was badly burned, so it is difficult to determine many of the contributing factors to the crash itself. Potential contributing factors include:
Mechanical failure
Driver fatigue
Driver inattention
Reduced visibility
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program
Aerial view of scene
Charred remains of cab

11. Recommendations
Manufacturers should consider the redesign and relocation of fuel tanks to reduce risk of penetration and fire.
Drivers should always be focused on the road to avoid distracted driving.
Commercial motor vehicle drivers should be trained to know the signs of fatigue and steps to take to eliminate driving while fatigued.
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program
Aerial view of scene
Charred remains of cab

12. Kentucky FACE Program
The original, full report for this incident can be found by visiting:
More occupational safety materials can be found on the Kentucky FACE website at:
Kentucky FACE Contact
Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Program