DT: THE CONTACT'S WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT. SHE LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE IN THE ROAD. SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. SHE WENT OFF THE ROAD, HITTING THE SIDE WALK, BLEW THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, AND THEN HIT A SMALL EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE OFF, AND THE BALL JOINT WAS BROKEN. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 04V596000 ON THE BALL JOINT, AND IT WAS REPLACED ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO. *AK