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2004 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

1 fatalfirecrash1 injured · 691390 · 2008-10-07

Vehicle

Make
FREIGHTLINER
Model
COLUMBIA
Year
2004
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Severity

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

Narrative

PERSONAL FRIEND/TRUCK DRIVER WAS DRIVING 2004 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA WITH MERCEDES ENGINE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. OTHER MOTORIST SAW HIM DRIVING ERRATICALLY, AND CALLED POLICE. DASH CAMERA RECORDS HIM WEAVING IN THE ROAD AND FINALLY VEERING INTO ONCOMING LANE, CRASHING INTO CONCRETE BARRIER. IMPACT WITH THE WALL CAUSES FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM CAB, CAUSING SMALL FIRE WHICH DID NOT BURN DRIVER OR CAB. DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. AUTOPSY REVEALED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH LEVEL OF CO IN BLOOD (61-65 %), BUT NO HEART ATTACK OR STROKE OR ANY OTHER NATURAL CAUSE. DEATH IS RULED ACCIDENTAL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT MANY OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE IS APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE, AND OTHERS WILL DIE UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTED. *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10244649
Machine
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