Just over a week ago I wrote “Bollard Standards | Lighter Vehicles In Low Speed Accidents”. The article dealt with a proposed standard being developed on bollard barriers to protect pedestrians from vehicles other than those used by terrorists.

The new standard would address protection against smaller vehicles traveling at lower speeds that accidentally crash into storefronts, buildings or unwary pedestrians due to loss of control by the driver.

The article was a follow up on a counter terrorism article covering bollards and other barriers covered under United States Department of State (DOS) ‘K’ class certifications. The former incidents actually happen much more frequently and cause more damage and injuries in total that either terrorist attacks or ram raids (crash and grabs) in the U.S.

Just a few days from the date of publication, not one, but two, incidents in the Chicago area appeared on my small screen.

On June 7th a Kia crashed into an empty space in a Palatine shopping center. Palatine police quickly arrived but could not remove the driver from the car which was by then on fire. Police were able to secure a towing strap and towed the car from the building. Bystanders helped extinguish the fire. The driver was removed from the vehicle and transported to a nearby hospital.

In the above video captured by a bystander, you can see the car in flames as it is being towed from the smoke engulfed scene. There is a huge, gaping hole left in the building. The cause of the crash was unknown at the time, but the officer and bystanders are indeed heroes.

Read more at “Palatine police, bystanders save man trapped in burning car that drove into building”.

Two days later another, much more tragic, accident was reported in Chicago. An off duty Chicago policeman crashed his vehicle into a restaurant on Chicago’s south side. A woman was killed and another injured in the crash. It was reported that the driver swerved to avoid an accident but was allegedly driving under the influence.

Perhaps properly installed low speed rated security bollards could have prevented this death, injury and extensive damage that occured from these two incidents.

You can call ECI at 847.949.0134 with for a no obligation security site assessment or to service and maintain existing equipment. Or click below for direct contact information.