NHTSA Gets Involved In 2004 Honda Odyssey Third-row Case That Killed 16-year-old Boy

This is just one of those stories that is frustrating to have to write.

Unfortunately for a 16-year-old boy, his life was cut short this week after an accident that led to him being asphyxiated in the cargo area of his 2004 Honda Odyssey minivan. If that wasn't bad enough, it gets worse.

That's because Kyle Plush called 911 not only once but twice. He clearly communicated his distress, his location and the make/model of the vehicle. The 911 operator sent officers to the scene but could not locate the car, somehow. According to the latest reports, the second operator did not relay some information to the responding officer(s).

It was deemed a prank and the deceased boy was found six hours later by his father.

Reports indicate that Plush was trying to retrieve tennis gear by kneeling on the third row and reaching over and into the cargo area. Somehow the seat flipped over and he was pinned by the seat upside down. In the recorded 911 phone calls he knows he's suffocating and time is short.

Reuters reports that NHTSA is looking into the matter.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday it is in contact with local authorities and Honda Motor Co in an effort to learn more about the death of a Ohio high school student who died of asphyxiation after getting trapped in a Honda Odyssey minivan.

Kyle Plush, 16, called 911 on April 10 after he told the operator he was stuck in his van in his high school parking lot in Cincinnati and warned he would die unless he was found soon.

That call prompted police to search for Plush at the high school but they were unable to find him.

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bw5011 - 4/14/2018 7:49:04 PM

+2 Boost

I still can't get my head wrapped around this. Very unfortunate for him and his family.

cidflekken - 4/14/2018 7:55:31 PM

+2 Boost

Very tragic accident. He must have gotten caught between the seatback and the rear door.

EVisNow - 4/14/2018 7:55:32 PM

+3 Boost

Condolences to the family for the terrible accident and the unfortunate circumstances leading to his death.

I have a similar Odyssey MY 2009. After this accident, I re-examine the 3rd row seat and found that it's quite easy to duplicate the scenario where a person can get pinned between the 3rd row bench and the closed lift gate. Based on the info available, the young man, Mr. Plush, was leaning over the 3rd row bench to reach for items in the trunk and somehow tipping the bench over. Once the whole seat is tipped over, the bottom bench will snap up to its folded position thus accelerating the folding action and pin him between the seat and the lift gate. Once the heavy seat is tipped over to the other side, it would take a very strong force to move it back - Mr. Plush in his trapped position would not be able to do that by himself.

As for possible cause, I have 2 theories: (1) Mr. Plush, while reaching for his stuff in the trunk, accidentally pushed the level on the back of the seat and unlatched the seat from its anchor (latch is located at the bottom front of the seat), or (2) the seat was already unlatched by a previous maneuver.

I hope NHTSA will conduct a thorough investigation and have Honda provide a solution for it. For now, I plan to put a zip tie around the latch to prevent it from accidental release.

Anyone with similar car care to comment ?

cidflekken - 4/14/2018 10:32:10 PM

+2 Boost

I think your 2009 Odyssey would have had 60/40 split 3rd row, correct? The 2004 Odyssey had a single bench, resulting in a heavier object weighing on Kyle, and the likelihood of getting trapped, without feasible escape. The article in the Cincinnati Enquirer states his head was in the rear well and his legs were trapped against the rear lift. With a 60/40, it would *seem* that the same exact scenario wouldn't be as likely, but I could be wrong. But I do believe that Kyle must have accidentally activated the reclining lever as he was reaching for his tennis gear, and that led to the seat collapse.

EVisNow - 4/15/2018 2:29:53 AM

+2 Boost

Thanks for the comment. Yes my 2009 has a 60/40 split bench, so the weight would be much less - but the inherent risk is there nonetheless. With the full bench, I can see that it's nearly impossible even for a grown man with slender body to get out since there is no pivot to push it up and also the well is very deep.

I also examined the 3rd row bottom latches on my car. It's not easy to confirm if the latches are secure or not unless I exert a lot of force. The latches may not engage properly if the seat are not dropped with full force (probably similar to the 2nd row seat rear latches involved in recent recall).

Thinking about the accident, if there was an emergency latch to open the lift gate from the inside, Kyle might have survived.

cidflekken - 4/15/2018 11:01:43 PM

+2 Boost

Not sure if minivans have emergency latches. They are mostly for trunks where someone runs the risk of being trapped inside. Minivans don't even have tonneau covers so there's typically no risk of being locked inside the cargo area. Even so, I'm not sure Kyle would have been able to reach for it. May he RIP and his family find comfort in his memory.