About 9:15 p.m. on April 23, 1979, a compact pickup truck with 12 teenaged occupants was traveling between 64 and 78 mph along a winding country road near Crofton, Maryland, when it failed to negotiate a curve to the left. The truck ran off the right side of the road and struck three trees located about 7 feet from the edge of the pavement. Ten passengers were killed and one passenger was seriously injured; the driver was injured slightly.

​We determined that the probable cause of this accident was high speed, reckless driving of a vehicle by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. Contributing to the severe consequences of the accident was the presence of passengers in the open bed of the pickup truck, an area that​ offered no crash protection.

​We made recommendations to the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances.