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My condolences to you and your family DG. I could definitely see the TMC community here coming together to do a charity drive or event to honor your daughter's life.
Gizmotoy
Active Member
Really sad to hear about this, Don. We all hope your elder daughter's condition improves soon. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Blessings & condolences to the Geddis Family.
Man charged in crash that killed 10-year-old girl; had prior DUI conviction
A man suspected of driving under the influence in a freeway crash that killed a 10-year-old girl on the I-405 in Seal Beach on Monday was on probation for a prior DUI conviction, authorities said Wednesday.
Adam Kanas, 36, of San Clemente was charged on Wednesday with one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with a prior conviction, and three felony counts of driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury.
Prosecutors said Kanas was allegedly driving under the influence of cocaine and opiates at about 9:20 a.m. Monday when his 2013 Chevy Tahoe swerved left over the double-yellow line into the carpool lane and struck the rear of a 2015 Tesla near the Seal Beach Boulevard exit on the northbound I-405.
Man charged in crash that killed 10-year-old girl; had prior DUI conviction
A man suspected of driving under the influence in a freeway crash that killed a 10-year-old girl on the I-405 in Seal Beach on Monday was on probation for a prior DUI conviction, authorities said Wednesday.
Adam Kanas, 36, of San Clemente was charged on Wednesday with one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with a prior conviction, and three felony counts of driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury.
Prosecutors said Kanas was allegedly driving under the influence of cocaine and opiates at about 9:20 a.m. Monday when his 2013 Chevy Tahoe swerved left over the double-yellow line into the carpool lane and struck the rear of a 2015 Tesla near the Seal Beach Boulevard exit on the northbound I-405.
SMSMD
Active Member
Don,
Deepest condolences. .may your 10 yr old rest in peace and your elder daughter recover fast.
Deepest condolences. .may your 10 yr old rest in peace and your elder daughter recover fast.
digitaltim
Sig737 VIN628
Ditto here. Not my words and not an exact quote, but fitting...
When a child loses a parent, they are orphaned. When an adult loses a spouse, they are widowed.
There are no words for someone losing a child.
DFibRL8R
Active Member
This tragic incident should cause us to evaluate the laws that don't go far enough to regulate light trucks in my opinion.
Why is anyone on probation for DUI allowed to drive a tank like the Tahoe? Seriously, driving anything heavier than a moped should be outlawed after a DUI conviction! Driving is a privilege and driving a "light truck" should be restricted only to those citizens who have demonstrated through their pristine driving records and a special permitting process that they can be trusted by the rest of the driving public to operate these dangerous (heavy, mis-matched bumper heights, prone to roll-over) machines.
Gizmotoy
Active Member
Wow. That is terrible. This guy shouldn't have even been on the road. I don't even have the words...
It does make me wonder how strong the back of all cars are - most safety test videos normally show a front, off-centre front (to simulate a country road with no barrier type road collision) and side impact - and cars have improved massively in the last 15 years in these areas. But I can't recall any showing a rear impact. Is it even part of the test?
Secondly - as you probably all know if a Tesla is sold with the rear facing jump seats then it has its rear section strengthened with an extra reinforcement beam. I can't help thinking that a similar collision would cause less damage to the rear of the car - and probably help rear-seat passengers too. A stronger cage and the inertia would act more to shove the car forward than damage the car. Does anyone know the height of the extra reinforcement beam - is it fitted higher up? Maybe Tesla could look to strengthen this part of the car too?
Secondly - as you probably all know if a Tesla is sold with the rear facing jump seats then it has its rear section strengthened with an extra reinforcement beam. I can't help thinking that a similar collision would cause less damage to the rear of the car - and probably help rear-seat passengers too. A stronger cage and the inertia would act more to shove the car forward than damage the car. Does anyone know the height of the extra reinforcement beam - is it fitted higher up? Maybe Tesla could look to strengthen this part of the car too?
DFibRL8R
Active Member
This is how things look under the bumper cover. I installed an eco hitch to carry bikes and to install you remove both the regular steel (black) bumper and the high strength boron steel (body color). Maybe there is additional structural reinforcement deeper in the back of the car also but I'm not sure. Photos show both bumpers removed on ground then the boron reinstalled over the hitch and finally the regular steel bumper.
I've heard that speculation, but I don't believe it's true. I think the speculation started when people were able to get the RFS retrofitted at about the same cost as buying it from the factory ($3k I think? $3.5k?). The speculation ensured in that thread that they must have come reinforced, and I believe (and I could be remembering wrong) the OP came back and said that the $3-3.5k included adding additional reinforcements as they would do in the factory.
The pictures of the Tahoe show its front reinforced bumper and frame acting as a battering ram right into the cabin of the the Model S.
In a head on collision you have 2 reinforced frames going head to head absorbing impact. The Model S did what it was designed to do and crumple, unfortunately it seems that the Tahoe's reinforced bumper did not and pushed its way forward.
My blood pressure rises and am emotionally upset just seeing the pictures of the guy and the fact he had a prior DUI. May Kendra rest in peace and pray for a speedy recovery for both Kayla and Don.
In a head on collision you have 2 reinforced frames going head to head absorbing impact. The Model S did what it was designed to do and crumple, unfortunately it seems that the Tahoe's reinforced bumper did not and pushed its way forward.
My blood pressure rises and am emotionally upset just seeing the pictures of the guy and the fact he had a prior DUI. May Kendra rest in peace and pray for a speedy recovery for both Kayla and Don.
Newscutter
Member
My family and I were saddened to hear of your loss and can't imagine how painful it is. You have our deepest sympathy.
Newscutter
Member
In your pictures, the flatter body-colored beam is the reinforced bumper. My car does not have this reinforcement (or rear facing seats) as verified when my Ecohitch was installed (TeslaPittsburgh.com: My Baby Gets Back: Torklift EcoHitch Review)
The regular steel bumper is what all cars have. That said, it doesn't seem like it would be difficult to obtain and add the reinforcement beam for those who desire to do so. I thought about it when having my hitch installed but reasoned it would stiffen the structure and pass through forces rather than absorb them.
I don't think anything can be done to prevent the kind of devastation a stopped car will experience when rear-ended by another vehicle at highway speeds.
Noneduck
Member
Don, I am so so sorry. Reading this thread brought tears to my eyes. Your loss is unimaginable. Condolences to you and your family.
