CAJON PASS, Calif. – San Bernardino County Firefighters executed a rescue operation, saving two lives after a vehicle careened over the side of the road in the Cajon Pass. According to reports, a Ford Expedition experienced a tire blowout, which caused it to swerve and lose control. This is when the SUV overturned and careened down an embankment.
The incident happened Thursday morning along the northbound lanes of Interstate 15, and the vehicle was located approximately 100-150 feet down from the freeway, lodged in a ravine, in what firefighters are describing as an “over-the-side rescue” operation.
One person was able to self-extricate, and one was trapped, requiring firefighters to use the “Jaws of Life” extrication equipment to get the victim out of the vehicle.
Rescue personnel used a rope rescue system to safely transport one individual back to the roadway while Air Rescue transported the more critical patient to the trauma center.
Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
Thoughts on Ford Expedition with Tire Blowout
First, I applaud the heroic first responders’ team whose bravery and fast-thinking skills rescued these two victims from the vehicle.
It’s tragic when the car you drive every day that is supposed to be designed to protect its occupants instead turns into a death trap. This incident needs trained professionals to conduct an independent investigation to determine the cause of this accident and the cause of the occupants’ injuries.
If the tire failure was due to a recent repair or replacement of tires, the maintenance shop may have fault in this accident. We have handled many cases where responsible SUV owners take their vehicles in for routine maintenance, and a technician installed the incorrect tire size or improperly installed the tires, causing a catastrophic accident. When this happens, the maintenance shop must be held accountable for its negligent actions.
In addition, we have seen and handled hundreds of cases where a defective tire caused serious injuries or deaths. A defective tire means a tire that should have never reached the driving public is placed on our roadways. It is a tire that, due to poor craftsmanship or a flawed design, did not meet the standard of safety or quality but somehow made it through production. When this happens, and the defective tire causes serious injuries or deaths, the tire manufacturer needs to be held accountable. This is a serious issue, and we wrote the book on tire defects to help others learn the serious risks they pose to the motoring public.
With accidents of this nature, the law also examines what caused the injury. This is different than the cause of the accident. The cause of the injury means that the vehicle a person is in should not be a contributor to the occupant’s serious injuries or death. Airbags should deploy, seatbelts should restrain, and roofs should not cave in. Roofs should protect and withstand the impact of a rollover. If trained professionals determine that the Expedition’s roof crushed in or collapsed, the SUV may have been a defective vehicle that led to the occupants’ injuries. If this is the case, the manufacturer may also share liability in this accident.
*******
The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, with extensive experience in complex auto/tire defect and commercial vehicle cases.
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
