The OPP released the photograph shown below of an SUV that rolled over on Highway 6 in Flamborough earlier today.
This is a classic example of a rollover that should not have resulted in fatal injuries. While we cannot see the other side of the vehicle and sometimes photographers purposely hide vehicle damage, what is visible shows evidence of a simple rollover. Simple rollovers are those that do not involve major deceleration that might occur from the impact of an wall, tree, another vehicle, etc. Such additional impacts would be recognized by the presence of crush to the vehicle. The only noticeable crush might exist at the front bumper which is missing. But that damage is minor. The minimal buckling at the front centre of the roof does not indicate a major force as such a roof is very soft and easily crushed in that manner. None of the roof pillars have been displaced and the occupant compartment retains essentially the same volume as it would prior to impact. The air bag curtains have deployed providing a further benefit to the driver’s survival and reducing the opportunity for ejection.
Simple rollovers will generate deceleration of about 0.4 to 0.6 g. When you brake your vehicle to its maximum on a dry pavement your vehicle slows down at a rate of about 0.7 g. So the slowing of a vehicle in a simple rollover is less than from maximum braking. You should not expect to sustain fatal injuries from braking so you should question why such injuries must exist in a simple rollover.
So overall, from what can be seen in this photo, the fatally injured occupant should have survived. We can never know what additional factors may be at play. Certainly anything that intruded into where the occupant was located could have a role to play. And lack of seat belt use would also be a consideration. But overall a further explanation should be provided as to why this person came to such an unfortunate circumstance.
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