Underride crashes, like the one Joshua Moran experienced, are particularly dangerous types of collisions involving a passenger vehicle and a larger truck. In these accidents, the smaller vehicle slides under the truck, often leading to severe injuries or fatalities due to the disparity in size and the lack of protective barriers on the truck’s sides.
On November 22, 2021, Moran was driving with his daughter in San Antonio, Texas, when an Amazon delivery truck attempted a right-hand turn from the far left lane. This maneuver caused Moran’s car to slide partly under the truck. The impact was severe: Moran blacked out, sustained multiple injuries including a traumatic brain injury, fractured knee, herniated discs, and required foot surgery. His daughter, who was also injured and later diagnosed with PTSD, witnessed the collision.
Moran expressed confusion and frustration about the incident, feeling he had followed all safety precautions such as wearing seat belts and adhering to speed limits. He expressed gratitude for surviving the crash, noting that it could have been fatal.
Underride crashes are the subject of the documentary “America’s Dangerous Trucks,” a collaborative investigation by FRONTLINE and ProPublica, which premiered on June 13, 2023. The documentary delves into the mechanics of underride crashes, their severe consequences, and the ongoing battle for improved truck safety measures. Interviews with experts, including collision reconstruction specialists, personal injury lawyers, advocates, and a federal agency official, provide insight into the causes of these crashes and the potential solutions that could prevent them, potentially saving thousands of lives.
