FHP Officer’s Death Raises New Questions About Ford Crown Victoria Safety
As Fort Lauderdale defective products attorneys, we were saddened to see an article about a young Florida Highway Patrolman’s death. According to the Miami Herald, Patrick Ambroise, 35, was killed May 15 when his parked patrol car was rear-ended near the Okeechobee Road toll plaza on the Florida Turnpike. The 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor burst into flames, trapping Ambroise inside and killing him at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle, 19-year-old Jonathan Robert Garcia of Miramar, is hospitalized in stable but serious condition. Ambroise leaves behind a wife and two children, ages five years and three months, as well as a tight extended family. The FHP said the case is still under investigation and no charges have yet been filed.
The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is made especially for police work and is among the most widely used police vehicles in North America. Its design is considered well suited for police work, with a large engine and a design that minimizes repair needs after minor accidents. However, it has also been criticized in the last two decades for allegedly being prone to catastrophic fires after rear-end accidents like this one. Consumer and law enforcement groups say the fuel tanks on Crown Victorias (including those sold to the public without police features) are placed within the cars’ “crush zone,” outside the rear axle. When someone hits the vehicle at high speed, critics say, that tank can rupture, allowing sparks to ignite a fuel fire. Since 2005, Ford has offered optional safety shields to keep the fuel tank from being punctured and automatic fire suppression systems. It was not reported whether Ambroise’s vehicle had these features.
Our Miami-Dade product defect lawyers are sorry to see any death caused by a product with a serious safety flaw. Consumers should be able to trust the products they buy to be reasonably safe -- especially with cars, which can be used as a deadly weapon. But it’s particularly alarming to see a possibly flawed product sold to law enforcement officers, whose job already carries high risks. Officers spend more time than the average person driving at high speeds -- in fact, Crown Victoria Police Interceptors are designed specifically for this job, with higher maximum speeds than other Crown Victorias. For this reason, it would make sense for Ford to consider high-speed accidents when placing the fuel tank, which is well known as a fire risk thanks to the 1970s Ford Pinto scandal. If it has not done so, especially after consumer groups began protesting, officers and families like Ambroise’s would have a strong case against it.
Law offices of Sebastian John Balliro, P.A. represents victims of all types of serious accidents in Florida caused by someone else’s negligence. In most of our car accident cases, this means the negligence of another driver. But when a car or one of its parts is defective, it doesn’t matter how safe the drivers are -- they can get into an accident because of flawed equipment they cannot control and had no idea would fail. The results can include wrongful deaths, head injuries, spinal damage and other serious, permanent disabilities. Our West Palm Beach product defect attorneys help victims of these serious injuries, and their families, recover damages from the companies that negligently allowed the flawed product to reach the market. Victims can recover compensation for all of their medical bills and future needs, as well as for the loss of a loved one, a permanent disability, physical pain and emotional anguish.
If you or a loved one was seriously hurt by a defective automobile, auto part or other consumer product, don’t hesitate to call Balliro. We offer free, confidential consultations, so you can speak to us at no further risk or obligation. To set one up, please send us a message through the Internet or call 1-866-INJURED, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
