The driver of a forklift that struck a married couple stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base didn’t see the pair before the fatal collision, according to findings from an Air Force investigation released this afternoon.
The driver and the pair who were struck were partially to blame for the incident that led to the death of Master Sgt. Melvin Peele in September, according to a summary of the report provided by D-M officials.
Peele was walking to his car along with his wife, Master Sgt. Lisa Peele, when they were struck near the base’s high-tech warfare center, known as the James H. Doolittle Combined Air Operations Center. Lisa Peele suffered non life-threatening injuries.
The investigation found that the forklift was driven in a manner that limited the view of the operator, which contributed to the fatality. Also contributing was “complacency and inattention by the victims,” according to the investigation’s summary.
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No disciplinary action was taken, as the purpose of the investigation, described as fact-finding by officials, was to determine what happened during the incident.
Base officials have made several changes to the road where the fatality occurred, including installing crosswalks, stop signs and vehicle barriers, said Tech. Sgt. Jim Fisher, a D-M spokesman.
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