Last year’s Minneapolis Bridge Collapse, which killed 13 people and injured scores of others, was the result of design defects rather than a lack of maintenance.  According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which met yesterday to issue a final draft report on the catastrophe, flawed gusset plates caused the I 35 West bridge to collapse under the weight of construction equipment that had been sitting on the structure at the time of the disaster.

The Minneapolis Bridge collapsed on August 1, 2007 at 6:05 p.m. It was the height of Minneapolis’ evening rush hour, and cars were lined up bumper-to- bumper across the span. At least 88 vehicles and hundreds of people fell 60 feet into the Mississippi River below. Thirteen people died and at least 100 others were injured. It would be nearly three weeks before the final victim of the Minneapolis Bridge collapse was pulled from the river. (more…)

In the wake of last summer’s Mississippi River Oil Spill, the U.S. Coast Guard has launched Operation Big Tow.  The Coast Guard says the inspection program will insure that tow boats operating on the Gulf Coast, Mississippi River and Western Rivers system re properly manned and crews have proper licensing.   Operation Big Tow will take place from November through January.

“While the majority of the towing industry operates safely and complies fully with licensing requirements, this comprehensive operation will allow us to identify any companies that may have problems,” said Capt. Verne B. Gifford, chief of prevention Eighth Coast Guard District, said in a press release announcing Operation Big Tow. (more…)

The Yamaha Rhino utility terrain vehicle (UTV) is the subject of two more personal injury lawsuits.  Plaintiffs in both lawsuits allege that the Yamaha Rhino contains multiple design flaws rendering it dangerously unstable and unduly prone to tipping and rolling over.

Just last week, it was learned that federal safety officials were investigating the Yamaha Rhino, which has been linked to 30 deaths.   The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) decision to investigate the Yamaha Rhino was based on  accident and death reports involving the vehicle, as wells as the high number of product liability suits - at least 200 - filed by people who claim they were injured by the Rhino. (more…)

Later this week, federal safety officials will be discussing last year’s Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people and injured 145 others.  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, where it is expected to release  a draft report identifying the cause of the I-35 West bridge collapse.

The Minneapolis Bridge collapsed on August 1, at 6:05 p.m. It was the height of Minneapolis’ evening rush hour, and cars were lined up bumper-to- bumper across the span. At least 88 vehicles and hundreds of people fell 60 feet into the Mississippi River below. Thirteen people died and at least 100 others were injured. It would be nearly three weeks before the final victim of the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse was pulled from the river. (more…)

After more than six weeks, the Coast Guard hearing into last summer’s Mississippi River oil spill has come to an end.  On Wednesday, its final day, the hearing turned into a blame game, as  attorneys for the towing company, barge owner and tanker involved in the spill all tried to deflect responsibility away from their clients.

The Mississippi River oil spill occurred on July 23 when the Tintomara and a barge -carrying 419,000 gallons of oil - being towed by the tug Mel Oliver collided. The barge split in half, spilling much of its cargo into the river. It is estimated that about 280,000 gallons of oil actually spilled into the Mississippi.  The spill was the worst to ever occur on the lower Mississippi River.   (more…)

Federal safety officials are investigating the Yamaha Rhino, a popular off-road-vehicle that has been linked to 30 deaths.   Unfortunately, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has not set safety standards for vehicles like the Rhino, which it classifies as a utility terrain vehicle, or UTV.  Another class of off-roaders, all terrain vehicles (ATVs),  are subject to safety standards.

While off-road vehicles are involved in hundreds of accidents every year, critics say the Yamaha Rhino ATV is even more likely to be involved in one particular type of mishap - rollover accidents.  They charge that the Yamaha Rhino is top heavy, and it has tires that are extremely narrow. These design defects make it far more likely that the Yamaha Rhino will tip and rollover while going through a turn, even when the vehicle is traveling at a slow speed and is on a flat surface. Furthermore, the Yamaha Rhino is designed in such a way that passengers’ legs are unprotected in the event of a rollover accident. (more…)

The absent captain of a towboat involved in last summer’s Mississippi River oil spill has refused to testify at a Coast Guard hearing investigating the disaster.  In addition to Captain Terry Carver, four officials from the towing company that employed him have also refused to address the hearing.

The Mississippi River oil spill occurred on July 23 when the tanker Tintomara and a barge carrying 419,000 gallons of oil - being towed by the Mel Oliver - collided. The barge split in half, spilling much of its cargo into the river. It is estimated that about 280,000 gallons of oil actually spilled into the Mississippi.  The spill was the worst to ever occur on the lower Mississippi River. (more…)

Consumer groups are saying that the hazards from all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) continue to increase and that, for the eighth year in a row, serious injuries caused by ATVs are on the rise. Children under age 16 continuing to suffer most of those injuries, according to a report released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  Worse, estimated deaths on ATVs also increased.

“Every year, more and more families are devastated by deaths and injuries caused by ATVs. This tragic problem continues to be in dire need of an aggressive and immediate solution,” stated Rachel Weintraub, Director of Product Safety for Consumer Federation of America. “Congress, CPSC, state legislatures, the ATV industry, and the consumer and health care community still have miles to go before we adequately reduce the hazards caused by ATVs.”  American Academy of Pediatrics President David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP pointed out that, “This new report shows more of the same—continued high death and injury rates among children on all-terrain vehicles.  ATVs continue to kill and seriously injure children at alarming rates.  The CPSC’s meager efforts to stem the tide have been entirely ineffective, and industry has done nothing to make these dangerous vehicles safer.” (more…)

The Coast Guard hearing into last summer’s Mississippi River oil spill continued yesterday, with a deckhand testifying that the towboat Mel Oliver was in poor physical condition at the time of the accident.  David LeBlanc also offered an account of events aboard the Mel Oliver that conflicted with that given by the vessel’s other deckhand last week.

The Mississippi River oil spill occurred on July 23 when the tanker Tintomara and a barge carrying 419,000 gallons of oil - being towed by the Mel Oliver - collided. The barge split in half, spilling much of its cargo into the river. It is estimated that about 280,000 gallons of oil actually spilled into the Mississippi.  The spill was the worst to ever occur on the lower Mississippi River. (more…)

It seems that this year was the deadliest year in emergency medical helicopter history and, now, federal accident investigators have just announced that the air-ambulance industry and its regulators moved too slowly to stop the onslaughts of medical helicopter accidents that involved nine  crashes and 35 deaths.  As a matter-of-fact, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) voted—for the first time ever—to put safety enhancements for air-ambulance flights on its annual “Most Wanted” list of suggested improvements.

Over two years ago, in January 2006, the NTSB urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to make air-ambulance flights subject to more stringent operating rules, require companies to address possible risks before each flight, and install devices that warn pilots in danger of accidentally striking the ground or other obstructions.  While some progress has been made on some of these requests, none have been fully put in place, said Jeffrey Guzzetti, deputy director of the NTSB’s aviation division.  “We need to put the foot down to the pedal.  People are dying,” NTSB board member Debbie Hersman said.  “There needs to be a sense of urgency. The fatalities are going up and up,” Hersman noted. (more…)