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1998 FORD ESCORT — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

firecrash1 injured · 287315 · 2001-04-07

Vehicle

Make
FORD
Model
ESCORT
Year
1998
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Speed
5 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
Yes
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HIS VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. MY SON'S CAR SPUN 90 DEGREES AND LANDED ON THE SIDE OF AN EMBANKMENT. THE CAR DID NOT FLIP AND LANDED RIGHT SIDE UP. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY SON NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY, HE WAS NOT KNOCKED UNCONSIOUS AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR QUICKLY. WITHIN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES, HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FLOORBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN 10-15 MINUTES. IF THIS ACCIDENT HAD HAPPENED ON A REMOTE ROAD AND MY SON WOULD OF BEEN INJURED MORE SERIOUSLY, AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF HIS CAR, AND WOULD HAVE BURNED TO DEATH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE CAR TO START ON FIRE. EVEN THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID THE CAR SHOULDN'T HAVE STARTED ON FIRE.*AK

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
743696
Machine
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