# 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — SEAT BELTS
> NHTSA complaint `293991` · 2001-05-21 · General Motors, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** PONTIAC
- **Model:** GRAND PRIX
- **Year:** 2000
- **Manufacturer:** General Motors, LLC
- **Component:** SEAT BELTS
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## Narrative
MY 6 YR. OLD DAUGHTER GOT HER NECK CAUGHT IN THE SEATBELT AFTER UNDOING IT TO HAND ME AN ICE CREAM CUP.  I HEARD HER MURMUR AND LOOKED BACK, SHE WAS STRANGLING AND COULD NOT TALK.  I SLOWED THE CAR CAREFULLY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BELT FROM TIGHTENING AROUND HER NECK ANY TIGHTER AND GOT OUT TO HELP HER.  I WAS UNABLE TO HELP HER BECAUSE THE BELT WAS AUTOMATICALLY TIGHTENING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE.   A MAN IN ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED AND ASKED IF I NEEDED HELP.  HE HAD A KNIFE AND WE HAD TO CUT THE SEATBELT OFF MY CHILD.  BY THAT TIME, MY DAUGHTER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO BREATHE OR SPEAK.  SHE ENDED UP WITH CERVICAL ABRASIONS, A VERTABRA OUT IN HER NECK, AND WE HAD TO WATCH HER FOR CLOSED HEAD INJURY SYMPTOMS.  I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANOTHER CHILD.  IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RELEASE LEVER TO RELEASE THE TENSION ON THE SHOULDER PART OF THE BELT, SHE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN FREED.  IF I HADN'T HAVE HEARD HER MURMUR OR IF A MAN DID NOT STOP WITH A KNIFE, MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE STRANGLED TO DEATH.  I AM REPORTING THIS TO THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND ALSO TO THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION.  I ATTEMPTED TO GET A POLICE REPORT TAKEN BUT I WAS TOLD RATHER RUDELY BY THE STATE POLICE AND THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE A REPORT ON SUCH A THING.  MORE OR LESS WHAT THEY WERE TELLING ME IS THAT MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE IS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO MAKE A REPORT ABOUT.  I HAVE NO UD-10 FROM THE POLICE BUT I DO HAVE THE DOCTOR'S NOTES AND PICTURES OF MY DAUGHTERS NECK AND 
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*