NHTSA Complaint #10196164 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS WRITING THIS FOR MY SISTER WHO IS NO LONGER HERE. SHE DROVE A 2001 FORD ESCAPE GOING 60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AND SHE REAR ENDED THEM. HER CAR FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES AND SHE WAS EJECTED. ALTHOUGH THE STATE TROOPERS SAID SHE WASN'T WEARING HER SEAT BELT SHE CLEARLY HAD A 2" BY 4" ABRASION ON HER LEFT SHOULDER EXACTLY THE SIZE AND LOCATION THAT HER SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE BEEN. THE SUV WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, NOT A PANEL ON IT WASN'T SMASHED - AND YET THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. IT WAS SO BAD THAT I WENT BY THE ACCIDENT AND DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THE CAR UNTIL A POLICE OFFICER CALLED OUR HOUSE AND TOLD US ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AND LOCATION. MY SISTER WAS 22 YEARS OLD WITH A HUSBAND AND A DAUGHTER AND NOW SHE IS NO LONGER HERE. I REALIZE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT, WE GOT A LETTER 2 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS 2 YEARS BEFORE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE AIRBAGS THOUGH. R.I.P. AMANDA WHITMORE.*AK