Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) for Wisconsin: Youth Reserve Recruit Killed in Automobile Collision While Traveling on Duty

摘要

A 17-year-old male Marine Reserve recruit (the victim) was a passenger in an automobile that went out of control on a snow-covered, icy highway and collided with another vehicle. The victim was seated in the front passenger seat of the vehicle that was being driven by another youth recruit, traveling on duty to a reserve training meeting. The driver, victim and two backseat passengers were all using lap and shoulder restraints. The driver pulled his vehicle out of the northbound lane to pass a large truck, started to slide on the icy road, and was struck broadside on the passenger's side by an oncoming car in the southbound lane. A driver in another vehicle summoned emergency services with his cell phone. EMS arrived at the scene within four minutes, and extricated the victim from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other recruits and the driver of the oncoming vehicle survived the collision, and were taken to the hospital. The FACE investigator concluded that, to prevent similar occurrences, employers should: (1) Establish a policy that provides for postponement of nonessential travel during hazardous conditions. Additionally, employers should establish a method for notifying workers of schedule changes due to hazardous travel conditions. (2) Contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division and the state agency responsible for child labor for guidance in complying with child labor laws which prohibit certain types of work by workers less than 18-years-old. (3) Ensure all travelers are trained in the proper use of vehicle safety features and drivers are trained in safe driving practices.