Case Study: 1996 Dodge Caravan Crash Test Fire

This video shows a crash test between a stationary 1996 Dodge Caravan, with underhood fluids on board, and a 3,611 lb deformable barrier traveling at 65 mph that struck the van in the left front corner. The first segment shows the collision in real time; the next shows it in slow motion. In the slow motion view, it is possible to see the fluids relased and mixed during the collision. The next segment shows a another real time view of the impact, during which no fire was immediately detected. The fire was first detected approximately five minutes after impact, when blistering paint was seen on the upper radiator tie bar near the front of the deformed battery. Flames were observed near the battery approximately 30 seconds later. Approximately 10 minutes after impact (five minutes after fire observation), the fire was extinguished. At that time, the fire was self-propagating, but little propagation had occurred.