List of heavy vehicle fatal accidents involving brake failure

A frequent cause of heavy vehicle accidents is failure of the braking systems, including gear boxes, when long hills are being descended. This is due to the large amount of kinetic energy that has to be dissipated generally as heat for a prolonged period via a limited heat energy dissipation volume in the braking surfaces. Special measures such as preventing heavy vehicles making these long descents and escape lanes are often introduced for this reason.
1920s
*10 June 1925 UK; Dibbles Bridge coach crash: a tour coach ran away following brake failure and falls off a bridge near Hebden, North Yorkshire, en route to Bolton Abbey, killing seven passengers.
1954
*29 September Netherlands - The brakes and gearbox of a Belgian tourist bus fail on the downhill slope of the Cauberg, near Valkenburg aan de Geul. The uncontrollable vehicle hits a pedestrian, then a monument and a building. 12 people are killed instantly, 7 (including the pedestrian) die in hospital.
*12 November, island of Reunion - The brakes of a bus fail on the downhill slope of Plateau-Caillou, in Saint-Paul. 54 people are killed, 23 instantly.[10
1963
* - June 10 United States - An open truck carrying 49 Boy Scouts and leaders stalls while climbing a hill en route to Hole in the Rock, Utah, loses its brakes, and plunges into Carcass Wash, killing 13 people.
1976
* March 10 - A regular route bus lost control due to brake failure and plunged down a mountain side in central Escuintla, Guatemala, killing 38 people; another 14 are injured.
1981
* April 14 India - A bus carrying Hindu pilgrims swerved to the left of the road, and navigating a turn with brakes failed, caught fire at Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, India, killing 61 people.
1983
* January 19 United States - A semi-trailer truck crashed into a mainline toll booth on the Connecticut Turnpike in Stratford, Connecticut, after brake failure, killing six people and injuring four.
1985
South Africa. It is known as the Westdene dam disaster
* April 6 - A regular route bus suffered brake failure and plunged 20 feet at Bherughat, Madhy Pradesh, India, killing 16 people and injuring 39.
* April 20 -
* July 21 - A bus overturned after brake failure and ran through a crowded market at Halsema expressway, Atok, Benguet, Philippines, killing 28 people and injuring 70.
2015
February 9th - heavy vehicle runs out of control in Lansdowne Lane, Bath, killing 4 pedestrians

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