Lawsuit Alleges Defective Tire Responsible for Deaths in Freeway Crash

By Richard Seward

Published on April 02, 2007

The lawsuit accuses the tire manufacturer, Continental Tire North America, of wrongful death, product liability, negligence, and breach of implied warranty. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two sisters whose mother, father, and 4-year-old brother all perished in the March 15 accident. Two other individuals were also killed, and two boys, ages 3 and 10, were seriously injured.

The Ford F150 driven by one of the victims was equipped with a tire model that had been recalled in 2002 but was sold as new last year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the tire, a Continental Contitrac AW P275/60R17, had been recalled due to a defect that could cause the tire’s tread to separate, potentially causing the driver to lose control.

A CHP officer verified that the tires are being looked at as a contributing factor in the accident, but said the investigation is still in its early stages and that no definitive conclusions have been reached.

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