The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Speed range from head-strike in pick-up vs. pedestrian collision

Curtis Haden (crh628@usaserve.net)
Wed, 18 Jun 1997 01:52:16 -0400 (EDT)

I recently worked a pick-up truck vs. pedestrian accident in which I have very limited at-scene evidence. The Evidence Eradication Team, (EET = ambulance, fire, rescue...etc.) had arrived at the scene about 30 minutes before I did, and they picked up or moved everything that they could. There were no pre- or post-impact skids, and no uninvolved witnesses. The pedestrian was struck from the rear, on the left side, by a 1981 Ford F-100 Pick-Up. Vehicle damage indicates a front-right initial impact, and there is also a dented area on the right side of the hood, presumably from head-strike, about four inches in front of the right side windshield post. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, and an examination of the body was conducted. There were obvious closed fractures of the left leg, and the left side of the pelvis was crushed and pushed forward. There was a large laceration to the top-rear portion of the scalp, and the neck appeared to be broken. No body parts were a
vulsed, and the only other obvious injuries were minor lacerations and abrasions. The accident occurred on a straight, gently sloping section of roadway, and the vehicle driver stated that he never saw the pedestrian, due to the fact that the sun was in his eyes. He said that he was going between 40-45 mph. The victim's wife was walking behind him, and slighty to his right, and stated that she saw the truck go by, and then strike her husband. She said that she wasn't very good with distances, but she thought that the impact launched him approximately 15-20 yards. She also said that the truck was going at a "pretty good speed", and thought it was more than 45 mph. The only vehicle debris that I found behind "final rest" of the body, was located 21 feet back. (This excludes evidence picked up or moved by the EET.) The vehicle was driven to a stop, approximately 208 feet past "final rest" of the body. My question is: Does anyone have an opinion, or know of resources, to reliabl
y determine a range of speed for the vehicle, based on the location of head-strike on a standard size pick-up.

Curtis Haden
crh628@usaserve.net

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