I WAS DRIVING A 1994 FORD PROBE SE, GOING NORTH ON WESTNEDGE IN PORTAGE, MICHIGAN WHEN I NOTICED TOO LATE THAT CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED MOVING. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND REAR ENDED IT. I WAS TRAVELING AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 35 MPH AND WAS SLOWING DOWN CONSIDERABLY BUT RAN OUT OF BRAKING ROOM. I BRACED FOR THE IMPACT AND HEARD A LOUD KRACK! AND THEN SOMETHING WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL BOMB HAD GONE OFF INSIDE MY CAR. I FELT A BURNING SENSATION AND THEN LOOKED AT MY ARM. IT LOOKED MANGLED, WITH GLASS IMBEDDED IN MY WRIST. THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE AND I HAD TROUBLE BREATHING. I HEARD MY WIFE SCREAMING AND SOBBING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LAID ON THE GRASS. THE PAIN WAS AWFUL. I COULD NOT BEAR TO LOOK AT MY DISFIGURED ARM. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE ARRIVED. THEY SPENT A LONG TIME CHECKING ME OVER FOR INTERNAL BLEEDING AND A BROKEN NECK. MY WIFE COMPLAINED OF THE PAIN IN HER WRIST. I OVERHEARD THE PARAMEDIC DISCUSS OUR SITUATION. THEY EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE EXTENT OF OUR INJURIES IN COMPARISON TO THE DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH. WE SPENT 5 HOURS AT THE ER. MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CLOSED FRACTURES TO HER RIGHT WRIST AND A BROKEN FINGER. I HAD BURNS ON MY RIGHT ARM WHERE THE END OF THE FOREARM AND ELBOW MEETS. I HAVE DEEP CUTS, ABRASION, AND BRUISES ON THAT ARM. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHER CAR WERE ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT AND DROVE HOME AFTERWARDS. YET, WE ARE STILL COPING WITH THE INJURIES CAUSED BY THE INFLATION OF THE AIRBAGS IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE A