Case Study: 1994 Saturn SL2

Overview

Extensive crush to Saturn from high-speed rear impact. Driver’s door likely removed by emergency services. Burn damage significant inside passenger compartment.

 

  • 1994 Saturn SL2 (fire vehicle)
  • Rear impact by front of 1995 Ford Taurus wagon
  • Delta V 42-48 mph
  • 1 occupant, fatal injuries

 

Overview: A police officer was attempting to stop a 1994 Saturn SL2 for speeding on an interstate highway. The Saturn driver inexplicably stopped in a lane of travel rather than pulling off the road and onto a shoulder. The front of a 1995 Taurus wagon that had been behind the Saturn and traveling in the same direction, struck the rear of the Saturn almost immediately after the Saturn came to rest. Sparks were observed underneath the Saturn and it caught fire immediately. The road was straight and dry and it was cloudy and dark with no streetlights.

Collision and Fire Damage: Crush-related intrusion extended forward to the rear of the driver's seat. Within 1-3 minutes of impact, a witness approached the driver's side of the Saturn. There were no flames visible on the ground or in the rear of the vehicle, but flames were visible in the passenger compartment behind the driver's seat and approaching the back of the head of the motionless driver. Dry chemical fire extinguishers reduced the visible flames briefly, but they resumed within 30 seconds. The passenger compartment was fully involved within 3-5 minutes of impact. Logs showed fire department personnel arriving within 7 minutes of impact. After the fire was extinguished, burn damage was largely limited to the passenger compartment region, with little extending to the undercarriage or engine compartment. The undercarriage surrounding the plastic gasoline tank showed very little evidence of burn damage.

Delta V of the Saturn was estimated to be 42-48 mph by momentum and crush energy methods. Delta V of the Taurus was estimated to be 32-38 mph.

Injuries: The first witness approaching the Saturn, a trained emergency medical technician, observed that the only occupant was motionless and upright in the driver's seat, with eyes open and pupils fixed. It was reported that both front doors were jammed shut and the occupant could not be removed before the flames were too intense. The Saturn driver died, most likely from traumatic injuries from impact. The Taurus had two occupants that had been belted and protected by air bags. The only injuries to either were neck and shoulder bums from seat belts.

 

Taurus, showing front end damage from collision with rear of Saturn.