Auto Technician Mistakes Handicapped-Accessible Accelerator Pedal for Brake Pedal and Fatally Pins Co-Worker

SUMMARY

Monday, January 6, 2014, a 50-year-old master technician and married father was sitting at his desk in the service bay area of a dealership, with his back to the service area, when an auto technician mistook a handicapped-accessible accelerator pedal for the brake pedal causing a Lincoln MKX to travel forward. The vehicle struck the desk chair the victim was sitting in and knocked him into the desk. The co-worker driving the MKX tried to steer to the right when he realized what was occurring, but was unable to avoid striking the victim. The co-worker quickly exited the vehicle and yelled for someone to call 911. A third employee who had prior EMT experience arrived at the scene and assessed the situation, calming the victim and covering him to keep him from going into shock until the ambulance arrived. The victim died from blunt force injuries en route to the hospital.

Recommendation No. 1: Based on manufacture’s recommendations service technicians should detach unfamiliar handicapped accessible equipment if untrained to use the special equipment before operating the vehicle.

Recommendation No. 2: All duties and other tasks not involving the driver of the vehicle, should be performed in an area away from, or barricaded from contact with vehicles being serviced.

Auto Technician Mistakes Handicapped-Accessible Accelerator Pedal for Brake Pedal and Fatally Pins Co-Worker [PDF 883 KB]