IT Consultant Dies on Kentucky Interstate in Single Vehicle Collision

The following report is the product of our Cooperative State partner and is presented here in its original unedited form from the state. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the individual Cooperative State partner and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

SUMMARY

On Tuesday, February 19, 2019, a 37-year-old male information technologist (IT) consultant (victim) was traveling from a client’s business in Kentucky to a regional airport in order to return to his home state. While driving, the driver lost control of the passenger vehicle, contacted the guardrail, overcorrected, and then struck the concrete median barrier.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:

• Texting while driving.
• Failing to use a seat belt.
• Lack of driver safety training.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Kentucky FACE investigator concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:

• Implement a texting while driving policy with associated training.
• Mandate the use of seat belts while driving on company time.
• Implement defensive driver training for employees who are required to travel.
• Replace W-beam highway guardrails with cable barriers.

IT Consultant Dies on Kentucky Interstate in Single Vehicle Collision [PDF 1,453 KB]