Issues
Judge Allows Class Action Lawsuit over Fuel Tanks in Ford Police Cars
By ROBERT GOODRICH Post-Dispatch
06/25/2003
A ruling Wednesday by a St. Clair County judge clears the way for a class action trial on behalf of all Illinois law enforcement agencies that bought Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor cars back to the 1992 model.
Some police officers say the cars' gasoline tanks tend to rupture in crashes. Ford denies the accusation.
The suit was filed in August in circuit court in Belleville by lawyers for the cities of Centreville and Cairo, Ill. The lead plaintiffs now are Centreville and St. Clair County.
1999-2002 Volvo Electronic Throttle Module
Pressure Increases on Volvo to Pay to Replace Faulty ThrottlesAir quality officials press for a warranty extension. The firm also faces a class-action suit.By Myron Levin
Times Staff Writer
May 3, 2005
Defective throttles in 1999-2001 Volvos have been failing at unusually high rates, causing cars to stall, raising air emissions and sticking owners with costly repairs.
Crown Vic Faces Further Scrutiny
Attorneys general task force to probe Ford police interceptors over fire-related deaths
WASHINGTON — The nation’s attorneys general formed a task force Friday to investigate the safety of Ford’s Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. The bipartisan National Association of Attorneys General took the step at the group’s national meeting in Oklahoma City.
Union Acts to Protect Troopers from Car Fires
Albany — PBA president advises no highway stops except in emergencies
By JAMES M. ODATO, Times Union
June 13, 2003
The union for State Police troopers is advising its members not to stop on highways for non-emergencies — apparently including routine tickets.
In an unprecedented move, the State Troopers PBA President Daniel M. De Federicis is advising members to take steps to minimize the chances of accidents with their Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor vehicles, several of which have had fires after rear-end crashes.
CAS 1995 House Testimony on CAFE
STATEMENT OF CLARENCE M. DITLOW
DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY
Before the
SUBCOMMITTEE on ENERGY AND POWER
HOUSE COMMITTEE on COMMERCE
Washington DC July 24, 1995
Trooper Killed when Trapped in Burning Car after Crash
5/22/03
By LINDA MAN
The Kansas City Star
Missouri State Trooper Killed in Accident on I-70
5/23/03
By LINDA MAN and ERIK PETERSEN
The Kansas City Star
A Missouri Highway Patrol trooper died Thursday when a pickup slammed into his patrol car in a traffic stop on Interstate 70, causing the car to burst into flames.
The trooper, trapped inside, burned to death. In the passenger seat next to him was the driver of the car that he had stopped, and that motorist was critically burned. The driver of the pickup that hit them also was injured.
Trooper Micheal Newton, 25, of Higginsville, Mo., died at the scene.
Trooper Dies in Fiery Crash
By Tammy Jones and Lynde Hedgpeth, staff writers
Asheville Citizen-Times
May 31, 2003
WAYNESVILLE – Sheriff Bobby Medford would have loved to have had Anthony Cogdill back in the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff saw Cogdill a few months ago, and told him the invitation was open. But Cogdill told him he was building a house in Haywood County, and he loved his job with the State Highway Patrol.
Safety of Officers Comes First
Sheriff declines to keep buying Ford model because of concerns
By ROGER RYDELL DANIELS
Lake City Reporter
Despite safety issues surrounding the Ford's Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, the car remains popular to law enforcement agencies – except the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Frank Owens won't buy one of the nation's most popular police cars until a safety issue, the car's probability of catching fire after wrecks, is resolved.
“I am concerned with the Columbia Sheriff''s Office,” Owens said.