1993 Ford Escort

AS BRIEFLY AND SUCCINTLY AS I CAN; MY FATHER WAS DRIVING A 1993 FORD ESCORT STATION WAGON ON ONE OF THE LAST DAYS OF WINTER WHEN HE APPARENTLY HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE. HE DID GO LEFT OF CENTER AND WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE (EACH VEHICLE @ 35MPH). MY QUESTION INVOLVES THE SIDE IMPACT CAPABILITY OF THIS MODEL - THE IMPACT WAS AS CLOSE TO BEING RIGHT ON THE "B'" PILLAR AS POSSIBLE AND THIS THING JUST FOLDED IN HALF. THE ROOF FOLDED, THE FLOOR BUCKLED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL. AT THIS POINT, I NEED TO EMPHASIZE THIS CAR WAS NOT A BUCKET OF RUST - HE BOUGHT IT USED BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES AND GREAT CONDITION (MY FATHER, THE ETERNAL BARGAIN HUNTER). ALTHOUGH I'VE LOST MY FATHER TO THIS ACCIDENT, I AM CURIOUS IF THIS WAS AN ANOMOLY OR ARE THESE STATION WAGONS NOTED FOR THIS COLLAPSING FEATURE? IF THIS HASN'T BEEN NOTED BEFORE, I WILL PRESUME THIS WAS A "ONE OF" EVENT, BUT IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE MODE, I WOULD SAY THERE IS A PROBLEM. AS A SIDE NOTE, I HAVE SEEN WHERE THIS YEAR AND SEVERAL AFTER IT WEREN'T TESTED FOR SIDE IMPACT. ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE TO SHARE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS, TOM DAVIS

THIS WAS NOT MY VEHICLE. I AM AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING SOMEONE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE TIRE FAILURE. (TIRESIZE: P175/70R13)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P175/70R13 )

MY SON WAS KILLED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. HE WAS THE DRIVER. THE SHOULDER HARNESS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE DOOR FRAME. HIS CAR WAS A 1993 FORD ESCORT WITH AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ASSEMBLY STAYED IN THE DOOR FRAME, BUT THE PART THAT HOLDS THE SHOULDER HARNESS IN THE UNIT BROKE. TS

DRIVER HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, POSSIBLY FELL ASLEEP AND RAN OFF THE ROAD , CAR WENT OVER ENBANKMENT AND HIT HEAD-ON AGAINST ROCKS. DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE THROUGH WINDSHIELD ABOUT 30-35 FEET DUE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC SEATBELT. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WAS IN FORWARD POSTION ON THE AUTOMATIC RAIL, AND BOTH DOORS WERE COMPLETELY CLOSED. ALSO BATTERY WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE . DEFECT RESULTED IN DEATH OF DRIVER.*AK

1993 FORD ESCORT STATIONWAGON ROLLED OVER AT 50 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ROOF CAVED IN CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S HEAD AND FACE. THE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELTS WERE IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION AND PROPERLY USED. THE ROOF AND SIDE BODY PILLARS DO NOT GIVE SUFFICIENT ROLLOVER PROTECTION TO PREVENT SEVERE HEAD AND FACIAL INJURIES TO FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS. THE ROOF CAVES DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE SEATBACK. IF THE SEATBACK CAN HOLD UP THE ROOF, WHY AREN'T THE ROOF AND SIDE PILLARS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT?*AK

VEHICLE SEAT BROKE LOOSE DURING A COLLISION. *MR *CB. THE CONSUMER WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN IT WAS REAR ENDED. (LAWYER ANTHONY IRACE ON BEHALF OF CLIENT NANCY GOETCHIUS.) *JB

VEHICLE WAS AT STOP SIGN, GOT REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK BROKE. *AK

MY SEAT BELT BROKE, THROWING ME AT 35 MPH IS THAT NORMAL? *AK

WHILE IN AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, RDS GREASY LIKE, STARTED APPLYING BRAKES; THEY LOCKED UP; VEHICLE SKIDDED; HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S UNLOCKED. PASSENGER FLEW UNDER DASHBOARD; DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL W/CHEST. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT CAME APART FROM IT'S MOUNTING, ALSO THE SEAT SLID FORWARD/FAILED.

WHEN REARENDED, THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE SEATBELT PULLED AWAY FROM THE CAR AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. *AK

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

THE VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

SEAT BACK RELEASE LEVER BROKE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO RECLINE BACKWARDS. *SD

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DID NOT TIGHTEN ON IMPACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR, SEAT BROKE AND SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. TT

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT SNAPPED FROM THE RETRACTOR CONNECTION DURING ACCIDENT. TT

WHILE DRIVING CAR SEEMED TO PULL TO RIGHT, DRIVER PROCEEDED TO STRAIGHTEN CAR AND CAR WENT LEFT THEN RIGHT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DAMAGING FRONT END OF VEHICLE.

SEATBELT FAILURE INVESTIGATED BY OFFICER MIKE SEDAM #14760, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL CENTRAL DIVISION MULTIDISCIPLINARY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION TEAM. CASE NUMBER: CL-007-00. CONTACT NUMBER: (559)277-7250. LAP PORTION OF PASSIVE RESTRAIN SYSTEM WAS NOT BEING WORN. FORCES INVOLVED IN THE ROLLOVER COLLISION CAUSED SUFFICIENT STRESS TO THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT LATCH TO BREAK THE INTERNAL LATCHING MECHANISM. *AK