A 15-passenger van rollover accident on the New York Thruway killed six people and critically injured eight others. All were members of a group from the Joy Fellowship Church in the Bronx. According to a news report in the New York Times, officials have identified those dead as the church's bishop, Simon White and his wife, Zelda; the church's pastor Titus McGhie; Avril Murray, Evelyn Ferguson and Elaine Reid. The injured were identified as: Bernard Lattibuediere (the van's driver) and passengers Veronica Frances, Miriam Edwards, Massie Gillespie, Nanda Richards, Judith Richards, Charlene Mandrie and Joan Davis.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family members and friends of the deceased victims. My thoughts and prayers remain with those who have been critically injured in this horrific crash. I wish them all the very best for a swift and full recovery.

15-Passenger Van Accident Statistics

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's research shows that there is a significant rollover risk in 15-passenger vans, especially when the van is fully loaded. In 2006, 50 percent of occupant fatalities that occurred were in vans that were fully loaded. Other factors that usually contribute to 15-passenger van rollover crashes include improperly inflated tires, defective tires and inexperienced drivers.

The NHTSA reports that more than 1,100 people in the United States were killed in single vehicle rollover accidents in these vans between 1992 and 2002. In fact, 15-passenger vans are three times more likely to roll over than any other vehicle. In the United States, it is illegal in most states for school districts to use these vans to transport children, but church groups, community organizations, many colleges and universities, even daycare centers use these dangerous vehicles for transportation.

Death Traps on Wheels
In my opinion, these vehicles are extremely dangerous because they use stadium-style seating where passengers in the back are sitting slightly higher than the people in front. This shifts the center of gravity, causing these vans to be very unsteady and rollover if the driver tries to take evasive action. Other auto products liability issues in these vans, as evidenced in this case, include possible tire defects, roof crush and seatbelt failure.
It is absolutely important that child care centers, church groups, university athletics teams and other organizations stop using these "death traps" immediately. It's not worth the risk. Several organizations continue using these vans because they are cheap to transport small groups – even after knowing about their dangers! Victims of 15-passenger van rollover crashes would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experiencedauto products liability lawyer, who has successfully handled such cases.

Do you travel often or occasionally in a 15-passenger van? What are your concerns about these vehicles after reading about this fatal accident?

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At the time this article was posted, none of the parties mentioned in this article were represented by any of our sponsoring law firms. The source of our information is cited in the article. No independent investigation was conducted unless specifically mentioned in the article. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein; get a comprehensive consultation with a reputable law firm.