7 Ways to Die in Your RV Unexpectedly – Real Life Examples

You can die doing just about anything. People have dropped dead while taking out the trash. So yes, technically, you could die in your RV from a heart attack, bad luck, or just old age. That’s not what we’re talking about here.

This is about real dangers tied to the way RVs are built, used, and lived in. Hazards that are specific to the RV lifestyle. Most of these are rare, but all are worth knowing about.

1. Propane Leaks and Explosions

Propane makes a comfortable RV life possible. It may power your furnace, fridge, stove, and sometimes even your water heater. But it’s also highly flammable. If it leaks, even a small spark can set off a devastating fire or explosion.

What can go wrong:

• Hidden line damage: Road vibration and age can crack propane hoses or loosen fittings, letting gas leak into the RV.
• Ignition after buildup: Because propane sinks, it can collect near the floor. A pilot light, refrigerator spark, or even switching on a light can ignite it.
• Appliance failures: Furnaces, water heaters, and refrigerators that run on propane sometimes fail or develop leaks that lead to fires or explosions.
• Cylinders handled incorrectly: Overfilled, stored indoors, or not properly secured, cylinders can vent or rupture.
• Accident damage: A crash or even striking road debris can rupture a line or tank.

Real case:
In 2025, two women died in Maine when their camper exploded. Investigators believe propane leaked inside. They tried to air it out, then lit a candle. That was enough to ignite the gas and destroy the RV.

What helps:
Install a propane detector and replace it promptly at the end of its life (typically 5-7 years). Check hoses and seals regularly and store propane tanks outside the RV in a well-ventilated area.

2. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

CO is odorless, invisible, and deadly. It builds up when fuel-burning appliances don’t vent properly or when exhaust flows back into the RV.

Sources of CO in an RV:

• Generators running too close to windows or vents
• Faulty furnace exhaust
• Propane heaters without proper ventilation
• Parking too close to someone else’s generator

Real case:
In February 2025, Daryl (no last name provided), a longtime Oregon camper, died in his RV after running the furnace overnight. His partner later learned from the medical examiner that carbon monoxide killed him. The family had no idea the furnace could quietly fill the RV with gas, and they didn’t have a detector installed. A friend later launched a program in Vernonia, Oregon, to give out free CO detectors in his memory.

What helps:
Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working and not expired. Crack a window when using unvented heat. Don’t run generators under slides or near fresh air intakes.

Related: The #1 Threat to RVers: 7 Life-Saving Tips to Prevent Deadly CO Poisoning

3. Overloaded RV = Blowouts and Brake Failures

If your rig is overweight or unevenly loaded, you’re pushing the limits of what it was designed to handle. That’s how people end up in ditches, flipped over, or wrapped around guardrails. And even when overloading isn’t the issue, a single tire blowout can be fatal.

Common problems:

• Overloading the RV beyond its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
• Uneven weight distribution (too much in one corner or on one axle)
• Exceeding axle or tire load ratings
• Aged-out tires (tires older than 5–7 years, even with good tread, are prone to blowouts)
• Underinflated or overinflated tires

Real case:
In August 2023, five people and a dog were killed when an RV’s front tire blew out on Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania. The RV crossed the median and slammed into a tractor-trailer towing doubles. Troopers reported that the tire failure triggered the crash.

What helps:
Check your tires before every trip. Replace them based on age, not just tread depth. Get your rig weighed axle by axle at a CAT scale. Stay under your weight ratings and travel with only the water you need.

4. Electrical Failures That Start Fires

RVs shake and rattle as you drive down the road. All that vibration takes a toll on wires, outlets, and connections. A loose wire in your house is bad, but in a rolling box full of wood paneling and upholstery, it can turn into a fire fast.

What the data shows:
The National Fire Protection Association found that mechanical and electrical failures are the leading causes of RV fires. Electrical malfunctions alone accounted for about 20% of vehicle fires and 26% of RV structure fires between 2008 and 2017. Many of the deadliest fires started this way.

Where issues tend to happen:

• Damaged or aging shore power cords
• Loose outlets or connections inside the RV
• Cheap plug adapters that overheat
• Campground pedestals wired incorrectly

What helps:
Always connect through a surge protector or, better yet, an electrical management system (EMS) that can cut power if voltage or polarity is off. Replace cords and plugs as soon as you see wear. And if an outlet or breaker ever feels hot, stop using it until it’s fixed.

5. Roll-Away or Drive-Away Accidents

There are fewer documented cases of deaths in RV roll-away incidents than other kinds of RV accidents, but the risk is real, especially since vehicle roll-aways do kill people in other contexts.

What we do know:

• The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tracks “rollaway” incidents in non-traffic crashes (when a vehicle moves without a driver in control, for example, slipping out of “park”) and estimates about 144 deaths per year from such rollaway vehicle events.
• It appears RV-specific rollaway deaths are not clearly separated in those statistics. That makes it hard to say how many rollaway deaths involve RVs specifically.

How roll-away accidents tend to happen in the RV context:

• Leaving the parking brake off or not fully engaged.
• Unhitching trailers on slopes without using wheel chocks.
• Relying on stabilizers or leveling jacks to hold the RV in place instead of blocking the wheels.

What helps reduce the risk:

• Treat stabilizers or leveling jacks as tools for comfort and minimization of sway, not as safety devices to prevent movement.
• Always use proper wheel chocks, even if the ground looks level.
• Confirm the parking brake is set before leaving the driver’s seat.
• Unhitch or do any setup work with adequate blocking in place.

6. Parking in the Wrong Spot

Where you park your RV isn’t just about the view. Choosing the wrong spot can put you in harm’s way, and in some cases, it has proven fatal.

Flash flooding:
On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas killed more than 100 people. Among the victims were dozens staying at RV parks situated in the floodplain. At the HTR Hill Country RV park in Ingram, as many as 37 people died when the river surged to record levels, sweeping away RVs and trailers. Survivors and responders reported hearing people trapped inside as units were carried downstream.

Uneven or unstable ground:
Parking on uneven or unstable surfaces can also be dangerous. In 2024, a woman in Sunnyvale, California died while helping position an RV on leveling blocks. The RV shifted and ran over her during the setup process. Accidents like this show that parking on uneven ground isn’t just inconvenient, it can be deadly.

How to reduce the risk:

• Take extra care when leveling on uneven surfaces and never put yourself where the RV could shift onto you.
• Avoid setting up in areas that have the potential for flooding, especially if storms are in the forecast.
• Don’t rely on looks alone; ask campground staff about flood history or posted warnings.

7. Tornadoes and Severe Storms

Unlike a house, your RV doesn’t have a foundation or a safe room. It’s basically a box on wheels. That makes it a bad place to ride out a tornado or strong windstorm.

Why RVers are more at risk:

• No basement or reinforced structure
• Campgrounds often lack storm shelters
• Time-consuming to break camp and leave
• Remote areas may have delayed emergency alerts

Real case:
In March 2024, 42-year-old T.J. Bailey of Midlothian, Texas was killed when the RV his family was in rolled multiple times during a severe storm outside the Texas Motorplex in Ennis. His wife and two sons were injured but survived. The force of the storm disintegrated the camper.

What helps:
Use a weather radio. Know the nearest shelter. Don’t wait until it’s too late to move. If your app warns of strong winds, that’s your cue to pack up and leave.

Should You Worry?

No. The odds of dying from any of these are extremely low… but they’re not zero. What makes these risks worth talking about is that they’re specific to RV life, and in most cases, preventable.

The goal isn’t paranoia. It’s awareness. If something on this list makes you think twice before your next trip, it’s worth it.