But is the problem with the word or with culture? If it's the latter, you can't fix it by changing the word, you'll just get on the euphemism mill and in a few

But is the problem with the word or with culture? If it's the latter, you can't fix it by changing the word, you'll just get on the euphemism mill and in a few years, crash will have become neutral, and you need a new word. Maybe it would be more effective to change the reporting culture around unpacking the cause a bit. If there's culpable behaviour involved in the accident, make sure to mention that?