NHTSA complaint: 2012 MITSUBISHI I-MIEV — SERVICE BRAKES
THE I-MIEV WAS BEING OPERATED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN IT HIT A PARKED CAR A AND PUSHED A INTO PARKED CAR B. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG IN THE I-MIEV DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER DID NOT APPEAR TO BE AFFECTED BY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, AND WAS COGENT AND CONVERSATIONAL. THE I-MIEV WAS TOWED AWAY DUE TO FRONT FENDER DAMAGE IMPEDING THE TIRE. THE DRIVER WAS PRESCRIBED THE BLOOD THINNER WARFIN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER CONTINUED WITH THE DAILY ROUTINE AND WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SHOWN NO EFFECTS OF THE ACCIDENT UNTIL 6 HOURS LATER. AT THAT POINT THE DRIVER COLLAPSED INTO A COMA AND NEVER RECOVERED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL ER WHERE A CATSCAN SHOWED A SUBDURAL HEMATOMA. THE CAUSE OF DEATH PER THE DEATH CERTIFICATE WAS COMPLICATIONS OF SUBDURAL HEMATOMA; BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE HEAD; AND MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS TO NOT RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A VEHICLE WITH AIRBAGS WHILE ON BLOOD THINNER. THE BLUNT FORCE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE TRAUMA TO THE HEAD LEADING TO THE SUBDURAL HEMATOMA OF THE DRIVER ON WARFIN. HOW OFTEN HAS THIS HAPPENED? WHY ARE THERE NOT ANY WARNINGS ABOUT THE DANGER OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT FOR THOSE ON BLOOD THINNERS? THE COMPARISON TO AIRBAG DEATHS TO FRONT-SEATED CHILDREN IS STARK. NOW CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT TO AVOID AIRBAG DECAPITATION. HOW MANY PEOPLE ON BLOOD-THINNERS HAVE DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN? *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation