This document discusses a truck rollover accident that resulted in three fatalities, analyzing the causes using fault tree analysis techniques. Initial assumptions about brake or steering failures were ruled out, revealing excessive speed and driver inattention as primary factors for the incident. The report provides recommendations for improving driver safety, including education, simulation training, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws.

1. AUTHOR : Rufran C. Frago, P. Eng., PMP®, CCP, PMI-RMP®
REVISION : November 7, 2014
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2. Disclaimer:
The names, events, locations, and circumstances in this write up are fictitious & any resemblance to
real persons living or dead, events, locations, and circumstances is purely coincidental. The mock up
situation considered is something that could happen in real life and can be a source of learning for
anyone interested in root cause analysis using the Fault Tree Analysis technique.
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3. Using Root Cause analysis techniques
investigate the given lifelike accident involving
truck road rollover reportedly caused by one of
the vehicle main part failure and build a Fault
Tree Analysis (FTA) chart to prove the report.
Briefly discuss accident data/ details collection,
causal factors charting and provide two/ three
recommendations to prevent this accident from
re-occurring.
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4. 2014:
A truck rolled over a car in XYZ, USA taking the lives of three
people. A 50,000-pound semi truck rolled on top of their car,
according to a story on Local TV. Witness report said the truck
was traveling north behind a small car turning right to the ABC
Road intersection when the rollover occurred.
Fatal consequence:
Three adult passenger of the small vehicle were killed. Witnesses
described “an unbelievable scene” as they watched those inside
the car crushed and then being extracted under the semi-truck
trailer. It took at least four hours to get the truck up right again.
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5. For this report, relevant details were collected using the
following internet facilities:
1. Blogs & threads
2. News Report
3. Injury Lawyer’s website
4. Government website
5. Transportation regulatory website such as the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
6. Various statistical studies published via internet
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10. Although initial investigation pointed to a potential truck brake or steering wheel failure,
compounded by an intersection collision of two vehicles travelling in perpendicular
directions from each other, in-depth follow-up assessment says otherwise. The two
vehicles were actually both travelling north, and turning right at the EFG Road-ABC
Road intersection. The rollover was caused mainly by the truck speed excessive to what
is properly required in negotiating a turn.
Other contributory causes are as follow:
1. Driver appears to be in a hurry approaching and turning right sharply at the
intersection right behind the Small Car (accelerating when the traffic light is about to
turn red).
2. Speed Excessive to loading (impacts the center of gravity and turning moment).
Rollovers occur when the front wheels are turning the truck more quickly than the
cargo it is carrying; the faster the speed of the vehicle, the greater the difference.
3. Possible inattentive driver when making tight, sudden turn
4. Failure to keep proper distance from Small Car
***Note that the potential brake failure initially entertained was ruled out due to the
absence of signs, road markings, and part wears that would indicate such.
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11. 1. Commercial Driver License programs could improve safety through the
use of video to expose truck drivers to the situations leading to rollovers.
2. Simulation can allow drivers to experience the results of rollover inducing
errors without the consequences.
3. Post lower truck speed limit for semis at that intersection and other
similar locations. The judgment problem is aggravated in many locations
by posted speed limits that are too high for loaded semi and tractor-trailers.
4. Continuing education and skill training on semi-trailer truck driving to
improve driving safety. It has to be renewed every year with the renewal
supported by the trucking companies.
5. All truck drivers should be extra cautious when approaching an
intersection and should understand that yellow light in an intersection
means slowing down.
6. Semi-truck drivers who are persistent traffic violators should be stripped
of their license for a considerable period of time.
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12. 1. Gursten, S. (2014).Four (4) Major Causes of Truck Rollover accidents (FMSCA).Retrieved
from http://www.michiganautolaw.com/blog/2014/07/19/truck-rollover-accident-causes/
2. ClickonDetroit.com, (2014).Eyewitness says police have false story about semi truck
rollover.Retrieved from http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Eyewitness-says-police-have-false-
story-about-semi-truck-rollover/24783212
3. McKnight and Bahout (2008). Analysis of Large Truck Rollover Crashes.Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256782/
4. Swarz & Lynch LLP (2014). Rollover Cases and Roof Crush.Retrieved from
http://www.swartzlynch.com/personal-injury/product-liability/rollover-roof-crush-cases/#
sthash.MIO4oynN.dpuf
5. Zhu & Srinavasan (2011).A comprehensive analysis of factors influencing the injury
severity of large-truck crashes.Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21094296
6. Sabbagh-Erlich (2005). Working conditions and fatigue in professional truck drivers at
Israeli ports.Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15805441
7. FMCSA Report to Congress on the large truck crash causation study, Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (MC-R/MC-RRA) 2006.
8. McKnight AJ. Investigative analysis of large truck accident causation. Prepared for
Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Associates; 2004
9. Khattak AJ, Schneider RJ. How can we prevent rollovers and reduce injury severity in
single-vehicle large truck crashes?; International Truck and Bus Safety Research and Policy
Symposium; Knoxville: University of Tennessee; 2002.
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