Retired IIHS-HLDI chief survives severe crash

Adrian Lund spent much of his career getting automakers to build vehicles that would protect their occupants from serious injury in a crash. After a severe collision last summer, the retired president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute in all likelihood owes his life to the improvements he helped usher in.

Lund was on his way to Savannah, Georgia, early one Saturday in August 2021. He had gone just 15 miles from his northern Virginia home when a car traveling the wrong way on the Interstate 95 express lanes collided with his. The frontal collision in the left lane sent Lund’s car spinning and rolling before coming to rest upside down on the right shoulder.

Lund estimates he was traveling 60 or 65 mph. The other car was going about 50.

“This was a high-speed crash, one that probably 10 years ago, I wouldn’t be here to talk to you about it,” he said recently.

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April 12, 2022

ARLINGTON, Va. — Adrian Lund spent much of his career getting automakers to build vehicles that would protect their occupants from serious injury in a crash. After a severe collision last summer, the retired president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute in all likelihood owes his life to the improvements he helped usher in.


Lund was on his way to Savannah, Georgia, early one Saturday in August. He had gone just 15 miles from his northern Virginia home when a car traveling the wrong way on the Interstate 95 express lanes collided with his. The frontal collision in the left lane sent Lund’s car spinning and rolling before coming to rest upside down on the right shoulder.

Lund estimates he was traveling 60 or 65 mph. The other car was going about 50.

“This was a high-speed crash, one that probably 10 years ago, I wouldn't be here to talk to you about it, ” he said recently.


Sadly, the other driver, a 29-year-old woman, was thrown from her car during the crash and died. When the crash occurred, she was driving the wrong way after making a U-turn in the southbound lanes.


Lund, who retired from IIHS-HLDI in 2017, credits his car, a 2020 BMW 540i with saving his life. The model, a 2020 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK, earned good ratings in all six crashworthiness tests, including the ones most applicable to Lund’s crash, the small overlap front and roof strength.


Lund remembers hanging upside down after the crash and noticing that he had room to move his legs. He was aware that he had just been in a frontal offset collision not all that different from the many tests he had watched in the crash hall at the IIHS Vehicle Research Center. In those tests, the structural intrusion is often worst around the legs, and the crash test dummy frequently registers high leg injury measures.


“The emergency teams began to show up shortly thereafter, ” Lund said. “They kept asking me, ‘Are you OK?’ I said, ‘I think I'm OK. I don't feel anything broken.’” Soon after, the rescuers cut the seat belt and pulled him out. Lund recalled feeling relief once he was out and able to see people’s faces.


Dominik Schuster, vice president of vehicle safety at BMW, said the crash showed the effectiveness of the vehicle’s safety concept and the importance of the extensive testing that vehicles undergo during development.

“In the end, it's all about one thing — providing vehicle occupants with the best possible protection in the event of an actual crash. IIHS has also been pursuing the same goal for decades. By setting requirements and performing tests derived from real-world crashes, they have been instrumental in driving vehicle safety, ” Schuster added. “Ultimately, the crash Adrian Lund had with his BMW 540i is a powerful example of how the interaction between consumer protection organizations like IIHS and automakers saves lives on the road.”


The other car in the crash, a 2016 BMW 228i, also had good crashworthiness ratings for the five tests that IIHS was conducting in 2016. Because the driver wasn’t belted, she was ejected from the vehicle, virtually eliminating any chance of survival. Without knowing more about the condition of her car, it’s impossible to say whether she would have survived this particular crash even if she had been belted. After striking Lund’s car, her car immediately collided with the jersey barrier. In addition, because of its smaller size and lighter weight, the midsize 2 series was at a disadvantage in a crash with the 5 series, a large car.

Lund suffered from dizziness for a couple of weeks resulting from a blow to the head. He had serious bruises on his chest, left side and leg and both heels, along with cuts on his arm. He also had some neck discomfort for several months, which he believes was a result of being upside down after the crash and supporting some of his weight with his head.


“In a crash like this, you don't come out uninjured, ” Lund said. “Considering the crash I was in, that I had a frontal, followed by a rollover — yeah, I'm pretty lucky. The car did its job.”

[kookistar]

What you had done for the institute finally saved your life. Life is full of many astounding coincidences.

[udaykumaru]

This man is a time traveler. He saw how he would die, so he went back in time to work for IIHS and improve his odds of surviving a severe crash.

[sterlingstauffer]

At first I thought “hitting a car that’s going 50 when your going 60 isn’t that bad”.
Then I realized it was HEAD ON!!

[cptfrost]

I remember writing him a letter in middle school for a project and he responded very quickly so glad to see him okay

[Bobmcjoepants]

Imagine dedicating your entire career to make the safety of cars to such that you survive a single, albiet nasty, crash after you retire
What a man, glad to see he's alright. Your work and the work of many has saved countless lives

[AgentSmith]

This proves that the structure of the vehicle itself is still very important, even with new cameras, computer technology and pre-crash awareness. Even at highway speeds, the crash is still survivable today thanks to people like this man 🙏🏻

[simonaldridge]

This gave me chills. Most people don't realize that it was during this man's tenure that the institute began conducting "small overlap crash" testing in which the front 25% is impacted. Many automakers still struggle with this test. It is almost certain the 5 series BMW he was driving was designed, from a safety perspective, to perform well in this very same type of crash as a direct result of the IIHS testing.

[lehighguy]

I just read the accident report. Both cars involved in the crash were BMWs. The woman who was driving the wrong way in the express lanes was driving a 2016 BMW 228i, and Mr. Lund was driving a 2020 BMW 540i. The wrong-way driver was not wearing her seatbelt and was killed after being thrown from the vehicle.

[jtg]

He was the president of the safety company that pioneered the offset crash test.
Then he experienced one. And he lived.
The fact that this man survived this crash literally _proves_ the work the IIHS has done over the years is actually making cars safer.
I'm glad he made it out OK and I'm proud for the IIHS, for taking today to make a safer tomorrow.

[JJFLD]

This right here is the best “why” to what you do. Knowing you have a purpose, a passion, a drive. What an incredible story, to be apart of an organisation that makes driving safer day by day and to actually experience first hand, the results of your work. Absolutely amazing.

[InsaneBimmer]

not just the ultimate driving machine but also possibly the ultimate safe driving machine.

[avishkarsingh]

Speaking from my own personal experience of a severe crash in a BMW, I can confidently say that they are extremely safe cars. My crash was horrific yet I came out without a single scratch and only minor whiplash injuries.

[Delta_NWABfan]

Glad he is ok! He experienced what he helped others survive with.

[bocanjm]

The car did its job, but most importantly, you did YOUR job and wore your seatbelt. It's a life-saving decision that many people skip everyday. Great job, Mr. Lund!

[datlocojojo]

25 years ago, a woman was driving on the highway with her baby in the car, when another driver failed to merge and cut her off the road. both cars were totaled.

the appraiser told the woman she was lucky to have driven a 3 series, in some other cars the baby might not have survived.

the baby was me

[ford]

When I was a kid, instead of looking and admiring super heroes or cartoons, I used to look up at this man. He was my hero, whenever he made videos explaining the crashes and how they worked I was like this 🤩. He was a part of my childhood. I’m glad he’s doing good.

[ryanelectra]

This hits close to home. Two years ago a guy ran a red light and head the side of my car at 95 mph! (Police downloaded his EDR). My injuries were much more severe, but I’m here typing this. And I give great credit to my car, a 2019 Porsche. I’m so glad you are ok Adrian, and that your work over the years has helped to make cars safer

[devyntheunbroken]

I also love the fact that the BMW also made him walk away alive with little to no injuries. They're expensive cars and can be a pain to maintain, but their motto "the ultimate driving machine" lives up to its name

[barbz_zayne]

I’m oh so glad that you are ok Adrian. You have helped many others survive crashes just like you were in, and that work had resulted in your survival. I’m glad you were in a TSP+ vehicle (BMW 5 Series), because if you had been in another vehicle, your injuries may have differed majorly. Stay safe out there.