Photos Explained

The photo between the diagrams at the top of the page is a test crash on the Riverside Campus of Texas A&M University in September 2000.  The diagrams are from official police collision reports.

Photos numbered 1 through 12

1. This is the result of a road rage incident where a vehicle was rammed from behind causing it to slide out of control across the center line and into oncoming traffic where it struck a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.  Three people in the sliding vehicle were killed. The driver who caused the crash was convicted and sentenced to over 90 years in prison. He parked his truck at the scene and his white truck is barely visible in the background at the extreme right center of the photo.

2. This vehicle lost control on an interstate, crossed the median, struck another vehicle, then burst into flames.  Both drivers escaped with minor injuries.

3. The driver of this vehicle was engaged in conversation with passengers and entered an intersection on a green light during rush hour.  He did not see or hear an ambulance that was proceeding to an emergency call with full lights and siren.  All other traffic yielded to the ambulance.  This car collided with the ambulance which fortunately did not yet have a patient on board.  Injuries were minor thanks to the use of seat belts by all parties. The driver of this vehicle was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

4. Two teens were in this car which was traveling on a two lane road after a rainstorm. Their vehicle hydroplaned and slid broadside into opposing traffic. Both teens were killed while the family in the other car received minor injuries.

5. A motorcycle was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed down a city street when an elderly woman pulled out from a side street. The resulting violent impact overturned the vehicle and killed the motorcyclist. Amazingly the woman suffered only minor injuries. Due to the extremely high speed of the motorcycle no charges were filed against her.

6. This compact vehicle driven by a young driver drifted off the edge of the roadway and when he overcorrected and crossed the center line he was struck by a van that literally peeled off the rear of his vehicle causing the small car to spin violently. The driver was wearing his seat belt and since the spinning motion pinned him to the back of his seat he came away with only superficial injuries.

7. The car turned left in front of the motorcycle.  The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet and suffered severe head injuries from which he eventually recovered. The driver of the car was charged with failure to yield.

8. This car was involved in a late night collision at an intersection and careened out of control into an adjacent railroad crossing signal. No train was involved and everyone recovered from their injuries.  The driver of the white car was charged with failure to yield.

9. The drunk driver in the car was crossing an icy bridge and slid across the center line and into the pickup. This was a survivable crash if the driver of the car had been wearing a seat belt however she died when she was thrown onto the passenger side and struck her head on a piece of jagged metal. No charges were filed against the uninjured driver of the truck.

10.  This is another hydroplane crash on a wet two lane road. A passenger in the white car was killed.

11.  At first glance it might appear the police car backed over the motorcycle however that is not the case.  The police car was stopped at a red light and the motorcyclist was not paying attention and realized too late the police car was not moving.  The motorcyclist laid his bike down and slid beneath the rear of the police car. Injuries to him and his very unhappy female passenger were minor.  The officer was not hurt. Click here to view video.

12.  Four teens in this car were playing games with teens in another vehicle when the driver lost control and slid sideways off the road and into a tree.  The collision ruptured the fuel line and fire consumed the vehicle. The three passengers escaped but the driver was pinned and burned to death. This view is of the front of the vehicle although the badly bent wheel makes it look more like a side shot.

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All photos copyright © 1991-1998 Oklahoma City Police Department