NHTSA Complaint #10147358 — 2002 MINI COOPER

TWO-CAR CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION - AIRBAGS IN 2002 MINI COOPER S FAILED TO DEPLOY. CAR 1 (2002 MINI COOPER S) WAS DRIVING WEST ON TOTTEN POND RD. IN WALTHAM, MA AT APPROX. 30 MPH, APPROACHING GREEN LIGHT AT INTERSECTION OF TOTTEN POND RD/WINTER ST AND WYMAN ST. CAR 2 (2001 CHEVY VAN) WAS TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON SAME ROAD (MPH UNKNOWN - APPROXIMATED AT 25 MPH) AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO WYMAN ST. IN FRONT OF CAR 1, STRIKING CAR 1 IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER PANEL AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE OF CAR1 (FRONT AND REAR QUARTER PANELS, DRIVER'S DOOR AND TIRES). I WAS THE OCCUPANT OF CAR 1 AND BECAUSE I WAS NOT WEARING A SET BELT, I WAS THROWN INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND WINDOW, SHATTERING THE WINDOW COMPLETELY WITH MY HEAD AND WAS THEN THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER IMPACT. NONE OF THE SIX AIRBAGS IN THE 2002 MINI COOPER S DEPLOYED. AT A MINIMUM, FROM THE ANGLE OF THE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AIRBAG AND DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND SUSTAINED MINOR HEAD INJURIES (MINOR CONCUSSION), MINOR CUTS TO MY HANDS AND BRUISING TO MY LEFT LEG. THE 2002 MINI COOPER S WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY (LIBERTY MUTUAL) AND THE DRIVER OF CAR 2'S INSURANCE COMPANY (AMICA MUTUAL) WILL BE NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT IS ON FILE WITH THE WALTHAM POLICE DEPT. IN WALTHAM, MA. IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT WILL BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, UNTIL THE INSURANCE CLAIM IS PROCESSED. *JB