MY FIRM WAS RETAINED BY A LAW OFFICE IN SPRINGFIELD, MO TO INVESTIGATE AN AUTO FATALITY ACCIDENT; WHERE A JEEP WRANGLER BEING TOWED BEHIND A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER AND TRUCK DETACHED FROM THE HITCH BALL, BROKE THE SAFETY CHAINS, CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, RESULTING IN DEATH TO THE DRIVER (SEE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL INCIDENT NUMBER [XXX]. THE TOW BAR COUPLER WAS PURCHASED FROM AN ON-LINE RETAILER, AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IN CHINA. HITCH COUPLERS ARE REQUIRED TO MEET THE TENETS OF SAE J684 - TRAILER COUPLINGS, HITCHES, AND SAFETY CHAINS--AUTOMOTIVE TYPE. TESTING OF AN EXEMPLAR COUPLING OF THIS TYPE REVEALED VERTICAL TENSION PULL-OFF FORCES RANGING FROM 313 - 421 POUNDS (AS SET UP SIMILAR TO THE ACCIDENT COUPLER), WHEN THE STANDARD REQUIREMENT IS 7,000 POUNDS FOR A CLASS 3 STYLE COUPLING. IN FACT, WHEN THE EXEMPLAR WAS ATTACHED TO ANOTHER JEEP AND PLACED ON A HITCH BALL, IT COULD BE DETACHED WITH MINOR PRESSURE FROM A PRY BAR. WE BELIEVE THIS MINIMAL FORCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT. AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, I HAVE AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION TO REPORT THIS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM MAY BE WIDESPREAD, FAR REACHING, AND INVOLVE NUMEROUS MANUFACTURERS. THIS IS A COMMON STYLE COUPLER THAT CAN BE PURCHASED FROM MANY DIFFERENT OUTLETS. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE DEVASTATING, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE YOUR FORM REQUIRED ME TO PICK A MANUFACTURER AND PRODUCT TYPE. THIS ONE WAS NOT LISTED, SO I CHOSE QUADRATEC. THE ONLY PRODUC