CHP blames driver for Big Bear Lake forest service van crash

RUNNING SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) - The California Highway Patrol says driver error caused a Forest Service van to plunge over 200 feet down a cliff in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Eight firefighters were injured in Monday's crash near Big Bear Lake.

31 year-old Stanley Taylor Jr. was driving the van and the CHP says he may be ticketed for making an "unsafe turning movement."

An investigation finds Taylor was going about 40 miles an hour when he swiped a guardrail while turning. He locked up the brakes, sending the 8-ton van down the mountainside.

The van split apart, with the crew cabin separating from the cab and chassis. Both pieces stopped about 235 feet below Highway 18.

All eight firemen were wearing seat belts.

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72 Hour Briefing

Date: October 4, 2007
Subject: 72 Hour Briefing, San Bernardino Forest Heaps Peak Crew Carrier Accident October 1, 2007
To: Vicki Jackson, Acting Regional Forester

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Number Injured: 1 moderate

Preliminary Factual Findings:
On October 1, 2007, a Crew Carrier with eight Forest employees from the Heaps Peak Helitack, were involved in a single vehicle rollover. They crew was in route to a mop-up assignment on the Butler II fire near Big Bear Lake, on the MountainTop District of the San Bernardino Forest.

Narrative:
On October 1, 2007, at 0915, the Heaps Peak Helitack departed Heaps Peak in a 10 passenger crew carrier with the driver and seven passengers for an assignment on the Butler II Fire. While driving along State Highway 18, in an area known as the “Artic Circle”, the driver stuck the guard rail and lost control of the crew carrier. The driver, attempted to regain control, but over corrected, struck another guard rail and went airborne off the side of the hill about 90 feet before hitting the hillside. The vehicle landed on its driver side first, crushing the driver cab, where upon the crew compartment separated from the cab and chassis. The two units then rolled several times down a 100 percent slope coming to rest 235 feet below the highway, being stopped only by heavy timber. All employees were wearing seatbelts and seven escaped with little or no injuries; one sustained moderate injuries to his shoulder. Two employees were kept in the hospital overnight for observation. The Del Rosa and Big Bear Hot Shots and Forest engine crews along with rescue units from Big Bear Lake Fire, and San Bernardino County Fire, performed a low angle rescue. The crew compartment, although sustaining damage, was structurally sound and protected the crew from more serious injuries.

A Regional Investigation Team is conducting a Safety Investigation. The California Highway Patrol is also conducting an accident investigation.
/S/ Kathy Hardy
Team Leader

Cc: Jim Pena, Deputy Regional Forester, Gene Smalley, Regional Safety Manager, Peter Tolosano, Regional Fire safety Officer, Jeanne Wade, San Bernardino Forest Supervisor.