What Happened
What Happened
On February 25, 2023, about 7:55 a.m. mountain standard time, a group of bicyclists was struck by a 2019 Ford F-250 pickup truck (pickup) while traveling south over the Cotton Lane Bridge (6500 block of South Cotton Lane) near Goodyear, Arizona. The pickup, which was also traveling south, departed the left lane and crossed the right southbound lane and shoulder before striking the southbound bridge barrier. Following the impact, the pickup veered left, struck the bicyclists, crossed over both southbound travel lanes, and stopped in the center median of the roadway. As a result of the crash, 2 bicyclists were fatally injured, 14 received injuries ranging from serious to minor, and 2 were not injured. The driver was wearing a lap/shoulder belt and was also uninjured.
What We Found
What We Found
We determined that the probable cause of the Goodyear, Arizona, crash between a pickup and a group of bicyclists was the pickup driver’s diminished state of alertness, likely due to fatigue. Contributing to the severity of the bicyclists’ injuries was the pickup driver’s speed and lack of response once the crash sequence began.
What We Recommended
The Goodyear, Arizona, crash serves as a reminder to drivers to get the right amount and quality of sleep to stay alert behind the wheel. Drivers should be aware that substances such as alcohol and other drugs can affect sleep quality and that fatigue can lead to driver performance errors such as slowed reaction time and impaired lane-tracking ability. In addition, speeding is one of the most common factors associated with fatal crashes in the United States and is particularly hazardous for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. Vehicle technologies, including intelligent speed assistance, can help drivers maintain safer speeds, even while fatigued, thus mitigating injuries when crashes occur.
The NTSB advocates for comprehensive strategies to protect vulnerable road users. Safety is a shared responsibility, and efforts by federal agencies including NHTSA and the FHWA to prevent and mitigate crashes must address bicyclists and other road users.
