Preventable Tragedies in The News

ESS scours daily news cycles and documents the numerous unfortunate daily preventable tragedies involving oncoming drivers colliding with disabled vehicles. We do this to verify this growing roadway safety issue, and to emphasize to motorists, automakers, safety regulators and lawmakers the urgency we face to implement a solution.

read all tragedies SINCE ESS INCEPTION

Featured Stories

Accidents are the leading cause of death for tow truck drivers, according to BLS

CNBC's Contessa Brewer reports on what's being done to stem deaths of roadside workers who stop to help disabled drivers, and one woman who fought to get a 'move over' law passed in her state. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmOJF-iBdjE

Three Southern University marching band members killed while changing tire in Louisiana

Three Southern University marching band members were killed when a semi-truck crashed into their car as they were changing a flat tire on the side of a Louisiana highway Tuesday night.

Northbound 15 Freeway Reopens After Fatal Crash In The Cajon Pass

CAJON PASS, Calif. (VVNG.com) — All lanes of the northbound I-15 freeway have reopened following an early morning fatal crash in the Cajon Pass.At about 6:44 am, on November 22, 2021, San Bernardino County Fire was dispatched to a crash involving a vehicle and a fuel tanker truck just south of Oak Hill Rd.

Two Dead After Sacramento PD Detective Crashes Into Disabled Vehicle On Interstate 5

An on-duty Sacramento Police Department detective crashed into a disabled pickup truck Tuesday morning on Interstate 5, killing two men standing near the truck, authorities said.

Officer Mike Huffman's Story

On April 26, 2013, off-duty Pasadena, Texas police officers Mike Huffman and Larry Candelari were returning from a hunting trip when they came upon a multi-car crash on the side of Interstate 10 eastbound northwest of San Antonio, TX.

Brother of Pittsburgh Steelers' Stephon Tuitt Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver

The brother of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt was tragically struck and killed killed in a hit-and-run accident in Georgia earlier this week. He was just 23-years-old.

Tennessee father, infant daughter and eight children killed in multi-vehicle crash on Alabama highway

A Tennessee father and his infant daughter were among 10 people -- nine of whom were children

Off-duty Seattle police officer fatally struck after stopping to help at I-5 collision scene

Seattle police on Monday continued to mourn the death of a well-respected colleague who was fatally struck by a car on southbound Interstate 5, after she stopped to help motorists involved in a collision.

Chris Smith's Story

In the wake of this tragedy, Smith serves as a brand ambassador for ESS – advocating for our Hazard Enhanced Location Protocol (H.E.L.P.) to be implemented into all new passenger vehicles so he can spare others from the pain and loss he has experienced following Cordero’s death.

Cheryl Hirsh's Story

On Oct. 5, 2017, Pittsburgh-area resident Scott Hirsh was killed in a disabled vehicle crash on the shoulder of a local expressway after stopping to change a flat tire.

June 3, 2025

Mom, young son killed in crash on Interstate 10 in Tucson after stopping to help another driver

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - State officials are trying to raise awareness of the dangers of stopping along highways after two good Samaritans were killed in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in Tucson on Sunday night.

May 28, 2025

Van hits disabled truck on US-131 before being hit by semi truck; 1 killed, 3 seriously injured

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — One person was killed and three others were seriously injured when their van hit a disabled pickup truck and was then hit by a semi on northbound US-131.

May 27, 2025

Woman killed after 18-wheeler causes chain reaction crash with other cars on East Freeway

HOUSTON – A multi-vehicle crash on the East Freeway Monday night claimed one woman’s life and sent three other drivers to a hospital.

May 24, 2025

Driver dead after their vehicle crashed into a tractor-trailer in Caroline

CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A driver is dead after their vehicle crashed into a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 southbound in Caroline County.

May 22, 2025

Jersey City Man Killed in Route 9 Crash on Edison Bridge While Fixing Disabled Truck

SAYREVILLE, NJ - A Jersey City man was struck and killed early Wednesday morning while attempting to repair his disabled tractor-trailer on the Edison Bridge, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Sayreville Police Department Chief Daniel Plumacker announced.

Even More Preventable Tragedies

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