Farmer Driving a Pickup Truck was Struck When a Pickup Ran a Stop Sign, Michigan

SUMMARY

In summer 2018, a male farmer in his 70s was driving a farm-owned pickup truck (Pickup #2) southbound on a dry, blacktop chip-sealed asphalt two-lane road with a speed limit of 55 mph when his vehicle was hit in an intersection by a westbound pickup truck (Pickup #1). The east-west road was a similarly constructed two-lane, 55 mph roadway. The north-south road had the right of way. Stop signs were positioned at the intersection on east-west roadway; the stop signs had affixed signage indicating crossroad traffic does not stop. The east-west road also had advance warning stop signs with the name of the north-south road affixed below. The westbound pickup truck (Pickup #1) entered the intersection without stopping and struck the decedent’s pickup truck (Pickup #2) on the drivers side. Both vehicles came to rest in a nearby farm field. The decedent was wearing his seat belt/shoulder harness. It was unclear to emergency responders if Pickup #1’s driver was wearing his seat belt/shoulder harness. Emergency response was summoned by passing motorists. The decedent was declared dead at the scene.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

• Driver not following traffic rules striking decedent’s pickup truck
• Driver ability to see oncoming traffic at intersection obscured by corn

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Vehicle drivers need to comply with traffic rules and warnings.
• State and local road authorities should periodically evaluate rural roadway traffic data to determine if existing road signage is appropriate.
• Farmers and rural county road commissions should discuss methods to allow for sight lines for oncoming traffic at roadway intersections.
• Employers should establish a Safe Driving program which includes communicating distracted driving principles/restrictions and reviewing defensive driving practices with all vehicle drivers.

Farmer Driving a Pickup Truck was Struck When a Pickup Ran a Stop Sign, Michigan [PDF 1,357 KB]