To Live or Die - The Dividing Line

The five Soldiers were excited about their Saturday night as they piled into a rental car to drive nearly 90 miles to hear a hip-hop artist at a nightclub. Just back from downrange where alcohol was a "no-no," drinking was definitely in the mix along with the music. And why not have fun' Four of them were still in their 7-day reintegration period, working half days at the most. Since it was a Saturday, they were released at 10:30 and weren't due back until formation 7:30 Sunday morning. Sgt. Lee Rogers* rented the car, a high-performance model, two days earlier on the day his unit got back from Iraq. And he didn't waste any time in getting back to partying. That night he and his friend Sgt. Adam Brooks* tied one on, and showed up at the Friday morning formation a bit worse for the wear. Rogers' section leader, Sgt. First Class Jeremy Brock*, counseled both sergeants to stay home and take it easy that night. The dangers of post-redeployment heavy drinking were well known, but they weren't worried about those dangers - only about getting back into the "good" life. Sometime between 7:30 and 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sergeants Jim Barrett*, Rogers and Brooks joined Specialists Larry Allen* and Jeff Goodson* in the rental car to head for the nightclub. Thanks to good, high-speed highways, they got there fairly quickly. They partied large and late because they didn't have to get back until their 7:30 morning formation. By the time they got ready to head back, it was somewhere between 5 and 5:30 a.m. As long as they hurried, they'd make it back in time for the formation. Despite the fact Brooks was drunk, Rogers let him get behind the wheel. The decision made little sense as Rogers knew Goodson was sober and in much better condition to drive. He should have been the obvious choice for the drive back that morning. Brooks and Rogers both buckled up for the trip back, but neither ensured their buddies in the backseat wore their seat belts. Maybe they thought their friends could sleep easier that way. Whatever the reason, it proved a huge mistake. Brooks was in a hurry and pushed the car over 100 mph. As the car sped down the highway, the long night began to take its toll. Shortly after passing an interchange, Brooks nodded off and the car drifted onto the right shoulder. Unfortunately, there were no rumble strips to warn Brooks he was about to get into serious trouble. Fatigued, intoxicated and falling asleep at the wheel, he allowed the car to drift across the line dividing life and death for his passengers. The humming of the tires against the pavement changed as the car drove onto the grassy shoulder. Suddenly, a series of thumps broke the early morning stillness as the vehicle plowed through a stand of small trees. For 284 feet the trees gave way, but then the car struck a 3-inch-thick support cable for an overpass. The cable didn't give way so easily and took its toll, ripping off part of the car's roof. Still the car plunged ahead at high speed. The vehicle tore past the cable and launched off a 4-foot-high wall, flying 35 feet through the air before slamming nose-first onto the pavement. The jolt shot Barrett and Allen - both unbelted - forward through the hole in the car's roof. The car then tumbled end over end, struck a tree and glanced off it to the right. As that happened Goodson - unrestrained in the backseat - flew out of the vehicle and was killed. As the car continued tumbling, the horrendous impacts tore away the motor and transaxle. In the front seat, Brooks and Rogers rode out the crash and survived, although with serious injuries. This vehicle was one that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had crash tested and given a Top Safety Pick award. During this accident, the car maintained the integrity of its occupant compartment and provided survivable space for all five Soldiers. Had the Soldiers in the backseat been wearing their seat belts, they'd have likely lived. But that didn't happen. The most important dividing line that morning - the car's 1A,A3/4-inch-wide seat belts - weren't there to save Allen, Barrett and Goodson. Ironically, they'd all survived the hazards of the front line only to die needlessly on the highway. Their deaths reflect the tragic consequences when Soldiers who protect each other in combat fail to protect each other when driving. As the person who rented the car, Rogers was responsible to ensure a sober driver was behind the wheel. As the driver, Brooks was responsible for ensuring everyone buckled up. Each of the Soldiers knew there was no "gray" area when it came to seat belt use. They'd heard it at their safety briefings every day. But despite that, no one in the car enforced what they all knew was a lifesaving standard. The bond that leads Soldiers to protect each other on the battlefield must reach to the highways. There is no other choice. Once a Soldier crosses the dividing line between life and death, there's no coming back. Editor's Note: This story is based upon an accident investigation conducted by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center. * Not their real names.