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CLOUDY Temp: 61 °F Wind: WNW at 5 mph Monday, September 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 20, 2003 Maj. Carol Samuelson of the Salvation Army in Medford says the organization is thinking about replacing its 15-passenger van with a safer model. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Fatal crash has sparked distrust of vans Fifteen-passenger vans have beena focus of repeated rollover warnings By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A freeway crash that killed a Talent girl and injured several others has prompted local agencies to reconsider the safety of 15-passenger vans. One of 12 missionaries aboard a Ford Econoline van, 14-year-old Jessy Newman died after the vehicle rolled over on Interstate 5 south of Sacramento. Three local teens are recovering from severe injuries. The missionary group from Ashland Christian Fellowship had taken two 15-passenger vans and one other vehicle on a 12-day trip to Mexico. Such vans have been the subject of repeated warnings issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The latest warning came in April 2002. Federal law prohibits the sale of 15- passenger vans to transport school-age children to school-related events. No law prohibits their use by college students or other passengers. The NHTSA has reported numerous rollover crashes involving 15-passenger vans used by religious organizations and college students. Eighty percent of people who die in rollover crashes involving a 15-passenger van were not wearing seat belts, according to the NHTSA. Advertisement Newman was one of several passengers ejected in the crash, according to California Highway Patrol officers. At least some of the passengers were not wearing seat belts, officers said. The van, driven by youth pastor Jeremy Hascall, rolled over at 4:49 a.m. after drifting onto the freeway’s right shoulder. Hascall, 28, turned the van to the left, crossing northbound lanes into the median. Hascall turned right, causing the van to skid back across northbound lanes. The vehicle flipped several times when the wheels hit the gravel shoulder. Newman was taken to U.C. Davis Medical Center, where she died at about 8 p.m. Sunday, officers said. Eleven of the van’s passengers were injured, three critically. Those girls, however, were improving Wednesday, according to Kim Lewis, a church spokesman. Kelsey Smith, 15, of Medford, was feeling sensation in her feet and legs after spinal surgery, Lewis said. Elisa Rosenlund, 15, of Ashland, was scheduled to undergo surgery for fractures to her pelvis. Kayla Heffner, 15, of Talent, was treated for a punctured lung and would likely be released later this week, Lewis said. Lewis, a former elder in the church, said he was not aware of safety issues involving 15-passenger vans. Church elder Chris Adams said the church had owned 15-passenger vans for several years and used them frequently to shuttle kids around town. He refused to comment, however, on the church’s opinion of the vans’ safety. "All the things that are involved in the accident will need to be reviewed," Adams said. Yet other local organizations, including Medford’s Catholic church, said they have been aware for some time of the vans’ safety risks and have either stopped using them or taken specific precautions. Medford’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church frequently rented 15-passenger vans for youth and senior activities in years past. However, the diocese recommended that the back seat be removed, allowing only 11 passengers. "We tried to take as many measures as we could to prevent anything from happening," said Ryan Millenheft, director of youth ministries for Sacred Heart. The church was aware of safety bulletins regarding 15-passenger vans, and rejected a plan to purchase one several years ago, Millenheft said. The church’s senior ministry now uses only eight-passenger vans for outings and hasn’t used 15-passenger vans in the past year since the church starting hearing more reports about crashes involving the vehicles, said Elaine Balderston. One crash last year prompted a Southern Oregon forestry company to sell off a fleet of 15-passenger vans after four firefighters died when their van overturned in Colorado. Merlin-based Grayback Forestry took precautions to prevent just such an accident, including limiting the number of passengers to 11 and loading equipment in another vehicle, said president Mike Wheelock. But those measures didn’t keep the van from overturning on Interstate 70 en route to fight a massive wildfire outside of Denver. "I guess we just didn’t know the magnitude of the problem," Wheelock said. Following the crash, Grayback sold off about 20 Ford Econoline 15-passenger vans used for transporting crews. Commonly used in forest industries, the vans cost about $25,000 apiece compared to $70,000 for a custom-built crew carrier that fits in the bed of a six-seat pickup truck, Wheelock said. All Grayback crews now travel in the large pickup trucks, he added. Representatives of several local nonprofit agencies say they’ve had no problems with 15-passenger vans but are looking to other transportation options. The Salvation Army in Medford is looking to replace a 10-year-old Dodge 15-passenger van, according to Maj. Marv Samuelson. The agency’s division headquarters also is re-evaluating its position on using the vans, said Maj. Carol Samuelson. Although the Samuelsons said they’ve had no problems driving the vans in 25 years with the Salvation Army, safer vehicles are available, they said. Community Works will stop using 15-passenger vans to shuttle kids to local alternative schools, said Arnie Green, executive director of Community Works. For both economic and safety reasons, the agency decided to contract with Laidlaw to provide regulation school buses, he said. In light of the recent crash and Newman’s death, more churches may consider using small buses for youth activities instead of large vans, Lewis said. "Maybe there is a safer way," Lewis said. "I’m all for it after this happened." Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times