Six Killed in North Carolina Tractor Trailer Underride Crash

A devastating crash in Charlotte, North Carolina, has left six people dead after two cars became trapped beneath a tractor-trailer, underscoring the deadly risks of underride collisions that safety experts warn remain underreported and poorly understood.

Details of the Crash

The wreck occurred around 11:06 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, along Interstate 485 near Walkers Ferry Road:

• Victims: Six people were killed, including 16-year-old driver Paul Sauer and five of six passengers in a Chrysler van. Three of the van’s victims were children under the age of eight.
• Survivor: A 16-year-old girl was the sole survivor from the van and was hospitalized with injuries.
• Rescue Operation: First responders spent five hours in dangerous heat lifting the tractor trailer to extract both vehicles.
• Truck Driver: The truck driver was not injured, and no charges are expected, with troopers confirming the driver was not at fault.

Why Underride Crashes Are So Deadly

The Charlotte crash falls into a category of collisions known as underride crashes, which experts describe as among the most catastrophic on U.S. roads.

• Definition: “An underride crash happens when a car slides underneath the body of a large truck in the gaps between the wheels,” explained Biza Repko of the Government Accountability Office.
• Severity: “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that I’ve ever seen a minor injury occur as a result of an underride crash,” said George Salinas, an Atlanta personal injury lawyer.
• Design Issues: Safety features like airbags often fail to deploy in underride crashes because the impact occurs above the hood or windshield.

Despite updated standards for rear underride guards, side underride protection is not federally mandated, leaving vehicles particularly vulnerable in collisions like the one in Charlotte. Advocates say underreporting obscures the true scale of the problem.

“If you don’t check a box on a police report that says underride, then how do we know the extent of the problem?” noted attorney Joe Fried.

NHTSA Rejects Side Underride Guard Petition

Just months before this crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) denied a petition seeking to classify the absence of side underride guards on trailers as a safety defect.

• NHTSA Position: “Currently, a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requiring side underride guards on semi-trailers does not exist,” the agency stated.
• Ongoing Review: The issue is under evaluation as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which prompted over 2,000 public comments.
• Committee Findings: An Advisory Committee on Underride Protection issued its final reports in 2024, but no mandate has been enacted.
• Optional Guards: At least one trailer manufacturer currently offers an optional side guard, though no requirement is in place.

Source: CDLLIFE | PBS | Transport Topics