NHTSA Complaint #10228975 — 2004 DODGE RAM 3500

CONDITIONS: 45*F +/- HEAVY RAIN, TORNADO WARNING IN EFFECT. 3:30PM MY VEHICLE HAD IT'S HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. CONDITIONS: 45*F +/- RAIN, TORNADO WARNING IN EFFECT. 3:30PM MY VEHICLE HAD ITS HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. VEHICLES INVOLVED: 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 CREW CAB LONG BED 4X4 DIESEL (MINE) MID 90'S CHEVROLET LUMINA SEDAN I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON YELLOWSTONE ROAD BEHIND A MID 90'S CHEVROLET LUMINA. I WAS TRAVELING BEHIND THEM AT OR BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH WHEN THE LUMINA SIGNALED TO TURN RIGHT AND BRAKED; AS SOON AS THEY BRAKED I BEGAN TO BRAKE JUST AS A PRECAUTION. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL ALL THE WAY PAST THE WHITE LINE ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THEIR VEHICLE BEING COMPLETELY SITUATED ON THE SHOULDER WITH THEIR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STILL ON AT WHICH POINT THEY WHERE APPROACHING A DRIVEWAY ON THEIR RIGHT SIDE. I DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THEN I SAW THE CHEVROLET'S FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO TURN LEFT AT WHICH POINT I TURNED LEFT AS HARD I AS POSSIBLE. THEY WERE MAKING IN ILLEGAL U-TURN ON A STATE HWY WITH DOUBLE YELLOW LINES. I TURNED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT THE ACCIDENT WAS UNAVOIDABLE AND MY DODGE'S PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BUMPER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR OF THE CHEVROLET WHEN THE FRONT END OF THEIR CAR WAS HALFWAY ACROSS THE SOUTHBOUND LANE OF TRAFFIC. UPON IMPACT MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HOWEVER TOUCH THEM OTHER THAN MY LEFT ARM BEING BRUSHED UP AGAINST IT UPON DEPLOYMENT. AT WHICH POINT THE BUCKLE OF MY SEATBELT CAME UNDONE AND THE TENSIONER DID NOT RETRACT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN A SMALL RAVINE, THROUGH A CULVERT WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE AND THROUGH A WOOD FENCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAVINE. ALL WHILE BEING UNBELTED DUE TO THE SEATBELT FAILING. I WAS ABLE TO SELF EXTRICATE FROM MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR BACK,NECK, AND HIP PAIN AND WILL BE BEGINNING REHABILITATION. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION UPON REQUEST. *TR