WHAT HAPPENED
The driver was slowly driving along a bush track in a Nissan Patrol Ute. The wheel of the light vehicle ran over a dead branch lying partially across the road.
The dead branch flicked up and drove through the plastic drain plug in the floor pan.
The dead branch then travelled through the passenger seat protruding some 150mm.
CONSEQUENCES
The branch could have easily protruded through the driver�s seat causing a fatal accident.
The vehicle could have carried a passenger who would have sustained serious injuries.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
� The Nissan Patrol was driving off road and drove over a dead tree branch lying on the track.
� The weight of the vehicle snapped the branch and the force of downwards pressure has projected the branch through the plastic drain plug and up through the passengers seat.
CONTROLLABLE CAUSES CORRECTED TO PREVENT RECURRENCE
� When driving on bush tracks and an obstacle is lying in the path of a vehicle, stop if practicable to do and remove the obstacle.
� Detour around the obstacle if unable to safely remove the obstacle from the path.
Ghost attached the following image:
RE: Branch through seat -
Posted on 09-10-2008 22:46