[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Jun-02 AT 09:17 PM (EST)]How many more policeman have to be burnt alive in order for Mr. Ford to realize that something is definely wrong with his Crown Victoria?
Another policeman died June 12 in Chandler Arizona - that makes 3.

Your vechile is unsafe if it explodes -

Shame on you and all your high paying executives.

Veronica
Chandler, Arizona

Chandler Police Officer Killed in Fiery Wreck:

Chandler, AZ) -- A Chandler police officer was killed Wednesday afternoon when his Ford Crown Victoria was sideswiped and caught fire, trapping the officer inside. The officer has been identified as 25-year-old Robert Nielsen, a two-year veteran of the Chandler Police Department. The accident comes just eight days after state officials opened talks with Ford Motor Company over three previous accidents involving Crown Victoria police cars. Two DPS officers have died in fiery crashes in their vehicles, and a Phoenix police officer was critically burned in another accident.

 

Do you know WHY it exploded?

 

The rear end hit a light post - last death

The previous one's were when the police cars were hit from behind.

They seem to explode -

 

Do you have any articles? I'd be really interested in looking into this.

 

I believe the first two cases involved them being rear-ended at a high rate of speed, like on the side of a highway (probably the 3rd as well). Cars aren't tested for such accidents. I wonder how others would fair in such a situation? And only 3 deaths out of the millions of police Crown Vics on the panther platform dating back to '79? Room for improvment, always. But let's not be irrational.

 

http://www.accessarizona.com/metro_news/g/Phoenix/0613-chandlerof.html

This is the news article in our paper The Arizona Republic.

 

Sorry Mister - this is 3 deaths just in Arizona alone.

And only mentioned - I know there were more in other states.

And might I add: This was NOT at a high rate of speed.

 

>And might I add: This was NOT at a high rate of speed.

Upon reading the most recent article, I see this instance wasn't. Still for a platform that's been around for over 20 years and nothing to have come up before now, I hardly consider it a major crisis.

I do express my condolences to those families who lost a loved one. I see you're from the town where the latest crash happened. I'm amusing this is why you signed up for FTE to come and voice your concern.

Here's the way I see any tragedy:

God is incharge. When he says your time is up, it's up. If these men didn't die in a firey crashes, something else would take them. It's sad, but a part of life. (It goes even deeper but hopefully I made my point) Does this excuse companies from making faulty products, no. But I really feel that this car is safe. As you said, there probably are some other cases. But 23 years is a long time and although the outside and inside design has changed on these cars, the frame has remained the same.

And Ford has recently made a fix for police cruisers to keep the gas tanks from puncturing.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Jun-02 AT 09:59 PM (EST)]>>And might I add: This was NOT at a high rate of speed.
>
>Upon reading the most recent article, I see this instance
>wasn't. Still for a platform that's been around for over 20
>years and nothing to have come up before now, I hardly
>consider it a major crisis.
>
>I do express my condolences to those families who lost a
>loved one. I see you're from the town where the latest
>crash happened. I'm amusing this is why you signed up for
>FTE to come and voice your concern.
>
>Here's the way I see any tragedy:
>
>God is incharge. When he says your time is up, it's up. If
>these men didn't die in a firey crashes, something else
>would take them. It's sad, but a part of life. (It goes
>even deeper but hopefully I made my point) Does this excuse
>companies from making faulty products, no. But I really
>feel that this car is safe. As you said, there probably are
>some other cases. But 23 years is a long time and although
>the outside and inside design has changed on these cars, the
>frame has remained the same.
>
>And Ford has recently made a fix for police cruisers to keep
>the gas tanks from puncturing.

Yes I am not only from the town where it happened, I saw the police officer that was only 25 years of age being burnt alive.
Sure glad you werent there - I just didnt realize you were an an expert automotive engineer - how else would you possibly know this car was safe.

 

>>>And might I add: This was NOT at a high rate of speed.
>>
>>Upon reading the most recent article, I see this instance
>>wasn't. Still for a platform that's been around for over 20
>>years and nothing to have come up before now, I hardly
>>consider it a major crisis.
>>
>>I do express my condolences to those families who lost a
>>loved one. I see you're from the town where the latest
>>crash happened. I'm amusing this is why you signed up for
>>FTE to come and voice your concern.
>>
>>Here's the way I see any tragedy:
>>
>>God is incharge. When he says your time is up, it's up. If
>>these men didn't die in a firey crashes, something else
>>would take them. It's sad, but a part of life. (It goes
>>even deeper but hopefully I made my point) Does this excuse
>>companies from making faulty products, no. But I really
>>feel that this car is safe. As you said, there probably are
>>some other cases. But 23 years is a long time and although
>>the outside and inside design has changed on these cars, the
>>frame has remained the same.
>>
>>And Ford has recently made a fix for police cruisers to keep
>>the gas tanks from puncturing.
>
>Yes I am not only from the town where it happened, I saw the
>police officer that was only 25 years of age being burnt
>alive.
>Sure glad you werent there - I just didnt realize you were
>an an expert automotive engineer - how else would you
>possibly know this car was safe.

And for your last comment: I hardly consider it a major crisis.
Shame on you - you hardly consider death a major crisis.
Feel the same for all the deaths in the twin towers as well?

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Jun-02 AT 10:44 PM (EST)]The direction this thread is going will probably end up being locked.

Back to the point. I have not heard of the Crown Vic being prone to blowing when rear ended. It should be a strong car especially when compared to a front wheel drive vehicle. The fact that people have died is lamentable.

 

This would seem to be a small problem to fix. When the cars are taken to wherever it is to be transformed to police vehicles, a fuel cell like the ones race cars use could be installed. The justification is that they are much more likely to be in a hazardous situation than a family car. I haven't heard of Crown Vics exploding until now.

 

>Yes I am not only from the town where it happened, I saw the
>police officer that was only 25 years of age being burnt
>alive.
>Sure glad you werent there - I just didnt realize you were
>an an expert automotive engineer - how else would you
>possibly know this car was safe.

I'm not an expert auto engineer, and I pray never have to view such a grewsome and tragic site.

My logic: The other accidents in AZ were from behind at a high rate of speed. As I said, it was above any standards set by the goverment and not as likely to occur in non-police vehicles. This instance was different. But hearing how it happened (more plausable for pedestrian Crown Vic accidents), it means that if safety was a problem, there would be many more instances like this, which there aren't. Other cars can catch fire in accidents too. What about vehicles that did really seem to have a problem such as the Chevy Corvair or the Ford Pinto, these issues were brought to light after only several years of production. If this was the case with the Crown Vic, I feel that something would have been brought to light before now (23 years later). It just doesn't make sense otherwise.

I don't mean to trialize death. It is very sad that this young man's life was cut short. It is also very tragic that over a million un-born babies are killed in the womb each year in the U.S. alone. 9-11 was also a horrible tragedy.

Our society as a whole has turned are back on God. Some even try to be God (cloning, abortion, etc.). I feel that our world is going through tribulations in hopes that God can get our attention and turn back to him before it's too late. Ever notice the increased number of natural disasters in recents years? Economic problems? 9-11? These are instances and other are tribulations we as a whole have to suffer through for the actions of other.

The best answer to anything is PRAYER, IMHO. If you feel Ford is in the wrong, pray for their guidance. Pray that this man was prepared to die (in good standing with God) and pray that for his family during this time of trial. I will do the same.

 

Well said mgazak, very well said.

 

We all agree that any loss of life is tragic. I'm sure that given enough data we could make a case against most any product as being unsafe. I agree totally with Matt, and since I don't think it can be said any better I'll just say well said.

Ron