# 1997 FORD EXPLORER — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `611829` · 2007-02-02 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 1
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** EXPLORER
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
## Narrative
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 1997 FORD EXPLORER.  THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.  THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE,  AND  THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ICY AND SNOWY.   THE DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER.  THE DRIVER  SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.  THERE WERE TWO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT INJURED.  IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE DRIVER WAS WEARING  THE  SEAT BELT.  ONE OF THE PASSENGERS REMOVED  THE  SEAT BELT  AND THE OTHER PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT ON SO THAT THEY COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE.  IT WAS  UNCLEAR WHETHER THE PASSENGER REMOVED THE SEAT BELT FROM THE DRIVER AS WELL.   THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW SHOP WHERE IT REMAINED.  THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME.  THE TOW SHOP PLANNED  TO SELL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE.  ITWAS UNKNOWN WHETHER THERE WERE PICTURES TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE.  THE CONTACT HAD A POLICE REPORT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAGS IN THE PAST. *AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*