Unfortunately, fatal. LINKMaintain your brakes, folks. Change that fluid if it's old and make sure you have lots of friction material.

Read the article, not sure if brakes was the problem. Sounds like she might have just misjudged and went "over the hill" literally. Looking at the photos, it appears she was heading straight into the end of T intersection and did not turn right or left, but went straight ahead. Brake failure? perhaps. But no attempt to turn, going straight forward, right down the steps ... to me, sounds more like she was not paying attention (like talking on a cell phone or turning knobs on the radio) and the end of the road was just there, catching her by surprise. She also did not have a seat belt on. If she would have had the seat belt on, she might have survived the ordeal. We will never know. It is a wake-up call reminder to always be on-guard and diligent with maintenance on all our RV's and vehicles, and an awesome reminder that RV's can kill just as easy as the family sedan. And to always be alert and pay attention when driving.I remember one thing my Driver's ED instructor told us. That was some 45 years ago and it stuck with me all my life. It's called "defensive driving." He said, absolutely every second you're driving, you need to constantly be re-evaluating ALL your surroundings to find the "way out" in the event of a sudden emergency. He said, take the ditch to avoid a head-on collision. Hit the side of another car if you have to to avoid a head-on. Vier off the road and side swipe a tree rather than hit another car. Better yet, look for the way out to avoid everything. I have followed that advise all my life and have never had an accident involving another vehicle (although I have backed into a telephone pole twice!)Sober warning ... scary though, it could happen to any of us.

Older driver, could have been she stepped on the gas instead of the brake. Happens a fair number of times, but no way to tell at this point.

Maybe a brake failure, bit who knows. What is for sure is that was an older (late 70's or early 80's class B) so who knows what kind of shape it was in!

fj12ryder wrote:Older driver, could have been she stepped on the gas instead of the brake. Happens a fair number of times, but no way to tell at this point.Yeah, I had heard this scenario mentioned quite a bit, too, and took it for a common place event and the cause of most sudden acceleration events. That is, until I had an oil change done at a Ford dealer. When the mechanic checked my air filter, he clipped off a piece of the filter flange. The next day, after entering a State Highway, the piece of clipped plastic lodged into the throttle body and held the vehicle at WOT. The replacement air filter has a different material for the flange.

Whoo, I'll bet that was exciting there for a minute.

Another Likely RV Brake Failure Crash | Good Sam Community

TOMMY47
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
If you want to be old at 65, you will be. I had a friend that thought 45 was old. You're whatever age you want to be. I've been around 28 for 25 years or more.
Certain cause of this death is lack of seatbelt. Not the crash, but the death.
A seatbelt in 1971 saved my life. Was very lucky my car had them back then.
I just don't get too sympathetic when folks get killed because they don't wear them when available. I know it's cold hearted but you/they made the choice.
Now, if her vehicle had no seatbelt due to its age, that's a different opinion.
wilber1
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
About 15 years ago I had a friend who was killed when ejected and had his SUV roll over him. Wasn't wearing a belt and the damage to his vehicle wasn't that bad. Good guy and all I could think was what a useless way to die.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014

That is the difference between a C class and most A class MH. The passenger compartment is still intact after an accident.

Even though that Dodge is old, it was still built to higher standards than A class MHs have to meet.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
wa8yxm wrote:

...at least two FATAL accidents I sent troopers to that would not have happened if the at fault had his belt one.

In one we arrested the at fault.

On the other we buried him.

Two fatal accidents and they only buried one of them? Wouldn't the arrested one be stinking up the place shortly? :B
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Aug 12, 2014
rhagfo wrote:
X2

Sorry, but in my way of thinking 65 is not old! Older is like my mother who turned 90 this year and is still driving fine.

The seat belt would have likely saved her life, the body is gone, but the cab looks to be well intact.

48 years ago, I installed seat belts in my parents car for safety. I have never owned a car I didn't have seat belts in and used every time I got in the car.
Thinking 65 is not old just doesn't make it so. :)
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Aug 12, 2014
"I FULLY AGREE and in fact have at least two FATAL accidents I sent troopers to that would not have happened if the at fault had his belt one..."

Are you saying the accidents would not have happened if the person had their seat belt fastened?
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Aug 12, 2014
MotorPro wrote:
The driver was rejected .....meaning no seat belt..............as soon as she hit the first bump she was likely not even in the seat to hit the brakes.......seat belts not only help in a crash they help prevent them!

I think you mean "Ejected" and speil clunk "Fixed" it for you.

But as for the last sentence...... I FULLY AGREE and in fact have at least two FATAL accidents I sent troopers to that would not have happened if the at fault had his belt one...

In one we arrested the at fault.

On the other we buried him.
Bull_Rider
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
I wonder if she was using a GPS that indicated "continue straight ahead". I saw the video on the news, sad story.

Our GPS will, on occasion, test us to see if we're paying attention. I think our GPS is possessed.
mich800
Explorer
Aug 12, 2014
2oldman wrote:
mich800 wrote:
There are plenty more who cite the incidents where an occupant was ejected without serious injury and conclude it is safer to be thrown clear after looking at the wrecked vehicle. Ignoring the statistics you will more often than not end up under the vehicle.
Nothing is assured in a crash. You're just more likely to survive if you're belted in.

That was my point. I did not mean to imply a safety belt has a 100% survival rate.
2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2014
ol Bombero-JC wrote:
The driver was rejected" ??..:?
..by her boyfriend and was respondent (hee) and committed suicide.