2019 NEW HAMPSHIRE TRUCK/MOTORCYCLES CRASH NTSB INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS RELEASED

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In a June 21, 2019 Randolph, NH crash, 5 motorcycle riders and 2 passengers died and 5 riders and 2 passengers were seriously injured.  The bikes had just left their hotel and were heading east on Rt.2 to an event to raise funds for disabled military veterans.  Moments after they entered the roadway in a staggered pattern, a pick up truck towing an empty transport trailer cross the center line, collided with the lead motorcycle and continued across the lane of the oncoming motorcycles, striking most of them with the truck and trailer.  The truck and trailer came to rest off the road on the wrong side of the road and started on fire. 

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With 7 dead and 7 seriously injured the NTSB conducted a deep investigation and just released its 1300 page investigation and report.  Attorney Normand briefly summarizes their conclusion as follows:

1. This was clearly an avoidable accident;

2. The pick up truck driver was taking drugs that contributed to his reactive time;

3. The pick up driver should not have been driving since his license was suspended in Connecticut just two months prior to the accident.  Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles received the notice of the revocation of this MA licensee, but they failed to follow state law and revoke the driver’s Mass. License as well.  Evidently they failed to act on many thousands of such out of state revocations in violation of their law;

4. The pick up driver’s employer did not provide any training, violated numerous federal operating requirements, shut down after this accident and may have reopened under another name operating in Florida, thus pointing out a problem in the system;

5. While the lead motorcyclist had alcohol in his system that exceeded the NH limit, he had little opportunity to avoid this collision, so alcohol use did not contribute in this instance;

6. Several deaths were due to blunt head injury and a USDOT approved helmet may have avoided some injuries.

7.  The motorcyclists were spaced too closely but they had just entered the roadway and did not yet have the opportunity to establish the proper spacing.

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In sum, this was an avoidable tragedy that the transport company could have avoided if they had conducted the proper background check including drug testing.

*Images from NTSB Highway Investigation - 70 Docket Items - HWY19MH010