Deadliest American Highway Accidents
Info: Each day an estimated 135,000,000 cars are on the roads in the U.S. Here is list of the deadliest american highway accidents.
Subscribe to American Eye http://goo.gl/GBphkv
#9 Gainesville, Florida (January 29, 2012)
Low visibility due to smoke and fog contributed to an accident on I-75 in Gainesville, Florida. In the early morning hours of January 29, 2012, several vehicles repeatedly collided into each other in the blinding fog. The accident killed 10 people, and nearly 20 were hospitalized. News reports say that the smoke and fog were so thick that rescuers had to listen for survivors’ screams to locate them in the debris. One survivor said it looked like the “end of the world.”
#8 Munfordville, Kentucky (March 26, 2010)
After a truck driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel while driving on I-65 in Munfordville, Kentucky, his truck crashed into a passenger van carrying 10 people, including one infant. The van’s occupants were on their way to Iowa for a wedding, but sadly wouldn’t make it. After hitting the van, the truck crashed into a rock wall, killing the driver instantly, bringing the death toll to 11.
#7 Minneapolis, Minnesota (August 1, 2007)
No single driver was at fault for the carnage of the Minneapolis bridge collapse. On August 1, 2007, 50 vehicles and their passengers plunged into the Mississippi River after the bridge’s structure gave way, reportedly from a too-thin gusset plate. As cars streamed over the eight-lane bridge during rush hour, the bridge collapsed, killing 13. Over 98 victims were treated at nearby hospitals.
#6 Calhoun, Tennessee (December 11, 1990)
The morning of December 11, 1990, lives in infamy due to a 70 car pile-up in Calhoun, Tennessee. The most fatal accident in the state’s history was caused by a tractor-trailer rear-ending another truck, followed by a sedan hitting the second tractor-trailer, only to cause a fireball from the truck’s chemical cargo. 15 people were killed as the cars involved in the collision erupted into flames, and 33 fire companies were needed to put out the fires.
#5 Coalinga, California (November 29, 1991)
The weekend after Thanksgiving, on November 29, 1991, was an incredibly windy one near Coalinga, California. Drivers on the stretch of I-5 experienced wind speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, and due to a recent drought, the rural farmlands in the area were dusty, kicking dirt into the air and greatly reducing visibility. Drivers unable to see in the dust storm found themselves in a 104 vehicle pileup that consisted of 93 cars and 11 tractor trailers. 17 people died in the crash, and 150 people received serious injuries.
#4 Sherman Texas, (August 8, 2008)
On August 8, 2008, 17 people were killed in a bus accident in Sherman, Texas. The bus was carrying 55 people on their way to a Catholic celebration and blew a tire. It then drove off an overpass on U.S 75, and crashed. Several factors likely led to the crash: the bus wasn’t licensed to operate, the tire had been reportedly patched and the company had a record of safety violations.
#3 Prestonsburg, Kentucky Bus Disaster (February 28, 1958)
Nearly 50 students were on a Floyd County school bus when it crashed on the way to the students’ schools on February 28, 1958 in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. Driver John Alex DeRossett’s collision with a wrecker would cause the death of 27 people when the bus plunged down into the Big Sandy River. The bus soon became fully submerged in the rapidly-moving waters, and only 22 children were able to escape. Navy divers located the bus 53 hours later.
#2 The Carrollton, Kentucky bus collision (May 14, 1988)
On the way back from a trip to King’s Island amusement park, 67 church members of the Assembly of God in Radcliff, Kentucky and their guests were in a former school bus that was hit head-on by a drunk driver. Around 11 P.M., Larry Wayne Mahoney was driving the wrong way on Interstate 71 when he collided with the bus. The force from the collision caused the ruptured gas tank to ignite, engulfing the bus in flames. 27 people died and 34 people were injured. The deadly bus accident occurred on May 14, 1988.
#1 The Yuba City Bus Disaster (May 21, 1976)
A charter bus with Yuba High School choir students was en route to Miramonte High School in Orinda, but things took a turn for the worst along I-680 on May 21, 1976. The bus driver was unfamiliar with the bus’ mechanics, and misread the low air pressure warning, heading down an off ramp. The brakes failed, and bus struck the bridge, falling 21.6 feet to the ground below. 52 passengers were on board, and 28 died in the crash.
Subscribe to American Eye http://goo.gl/GBphkv
#9 Gainesville, Florida (January 29, 2012)
Low visibility due to smoke and fog contributed to an accident on I-75 in Gainesville, Florida. In the early morning hours of January 29, 2012, several vehicles repeatedly collided into each other in the blinding fog. The accident killed 10 people, and nearly 20 were hospitalized. News reports say that the smoke and fog were so thick that rescuers had to listen for survivors’ screams to locate them in the debris. One survivor said it looked like the “end of the world.”
#8 Munfordville, Kentucky (March 26, 2010)
After a truck driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel while driving on I-65 in Munfordville, Kentucky, his truck crashed into a passenger van carrying 10 people, including one infant. The van’s occupants were on their way to Iowa for a wedding, but sadly wouldn’t make it. After hitting the van, the truck crashed into a rock wall, killing the driver instantly, bringing the death toll to 11.
#7 Minneapolis, Minnesota (August 1, 2007)
No single driver was at fault for the carnage of the Minneapolis bridge collapse. On August 1, 2007, 50 vehicles and their passengers plunged into the Mississippi River after the bridge’s structure gave way, reportedly from a too-thin gusset plate. As cars streamed over the eight-lane bridge during rush hour, the bridge collapsed, killing 13. Over 98 victims were treated at nearby hospitals.
#6 Calhoun, Tennessee (December 11, 1990)
The morning of December 11, 1990, lives in infamy due to a 70 car pile-up in Calhoun, Tennessee. The most fatal accident in the state’s history was caused by a tractor-trailer rear-ending another truck, followed by a sedan hitting the second tractor-trailer, only to cause a fireball from the truck’s chemical cargo. 15 people were killed as the cars involved in the collision erupted into flames, and 33 fire companies were needed to put out the fires.
#5 Coalinga, California (November 29, 1991)
The weekend after Thanksgiving, on November 29, 1991, was an incredibly windy one near Coalinga, California. Drivers on the stretch of I-5 experienced wind speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, and due to a recent drought, the rural farmlands in the area were dusty, kicking dirt into the air and greatly reducing visibility. Drivers unable to see in the dust storm found themselves in a 104 vehicle pileup that consisted of 93 cars and 11 tractor trailers. 17 people died in the crash, and 150 people received serious injuries.
#4 Sherman Texas, (August 8, 2008)
On August 8, 2008, 17 people were killed in a bus accident in Sherman, Texas. The bus was carrying 55 people on their way to a Catholic celebration and blew a tire. It then drove off an overpass on U.S 75, and crashed. Several factors likely led to the crash: the bus wasn’t licensed to operate, the tire had been reportedly patched and the company had a record of safety violations.
#3 Prestonsburg, Kentucky Bus Disaster (February 28, 1958)
Nearly 50 students were on a Floyd County school bus when it crashed on the way to the students’ schools on February 28, 1958 in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. Driver John Alex DeRossett’s collision with a wrecker would cause the death of 27 people when the bus plunged down into the Big Sandy River. The bus soon became fully submerged in the rapidly-moving waters, and only 22 children were able to escape. Navy divers located the bus 53 hours later.
#2 The Carrollton, Kentucky bus collision (May 14, 1988)
On the way back from a trip to King’s Island amusement park, 67 church members of the Assembly of God in Radcliff, Kentucky and their guests were in a former school bus that was hit head-on by a drunk driver. Around 11 P.M., Larry Wayne Mahoney was driving the wrong way on Interstate 71 when he collided with the bus. The force from the collision caused the ruptured gas tank to ignite, engulfing the bus in flames. 27 people died and 34 people were injured. The deadly bus accident occurred on May 14, 1988.
#1 The Yuba City Bus Disaster (May 21, 1976)
A charter bus with Yuba High School choir students was en route to Miramonte High School in Orinda, but things took a turn for the worst along I-680 on May 21, 1976. The bus driver was unfamiliar with the bus’ mechanics, and misread the low air pressure warning, heading down an off ramp. The brakes failed, and bus struck the bridge, falling 21.6 feet to the ground below. 52 passengers were on board, and 28 died in the crash.
0 comments for "Deadliest American Highway Accidents "