NHTSA Complaint #10234555 — 2005 MAZDA MAZDA6

MY DAUGHTER AND WERE AT THE TOP OF THE ON-RAMP FOR I-64 EAST BOUND, AT SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV. THIS IS A LONG MERGE LANE THAT BECOMES THE FAR-RIGHT LANE ON I-64. WE WERE DRIVING AT 40 TO 42 MPH, AS ATTESTED TO BY TWO WITNESSES. A T THIS POINT WE FELT A LEFT "SHIMMY" IN THE REAR OF OUR 2005 MAZDA 6 HATCHBACK (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, WITH ANTI-SKID BRAKES, AND SENSORS TO SIGNAL THE OTHER WHEEL IF ONE WHEEL BEGINS TO SLIDE). MY DAUGHTER CORRECTED THE SHIFT AND WE CONTINUED IN THE MERGE LANE. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS WE EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT JERK TO THE LEFT IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. IT THREW US INTO A SWERVE, BUT, MY DAUGHTER REGAINED CONTROL, AND WE WERE AGAIN HEADED EAST. WITHIN SECONDS, THE REAR AGAIN JERKED LEFT VIOLENTLY. WE WERE THROWN INTO A CLOCKWISE SPIN AND HURTLED INTO THE MEDIAN WALL, THEN PROPELLED BACKWARD. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE DRIVERS DOOR OPENED WHEN MY DAUGHTER APPLIED FORCE TO IT, BUT, THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN UNTIL MY DAUGHTER PULLED FROM THE OUTSIDE AS I SHOVED WITH MY FEET INSIDE. THE HOOD WAS UP, SMOKE & STEAM POURED OUT, & WE HEARD POPPING SOUNDS. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT WHEN MY DAUGHTER PULLED ON THE OUTSIDE AND I PUSHED WITH MY FEET ON THE INSIDE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA & ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS DISTANT ENOUGH TO STOP BEFORE REACHING US. THERE WAS A HUSBAND AND WIFE WHOM HAD BEEN DRIVING BEHIND US SINCE THE ENTRANCE OF THE ON RAMP AND `WITNESSED THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT. THEY CALLED 911, THEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO WAIT FOR EMERGENCY AND POLICE HELP TO ARRIVE. THE HUSBAND HELPED ME SIT DOWN AND ASKED IF I WAS ALRIGHT, THEN SAID, "I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE IN MY LIFE. THE ENTIRE REAR OF YOUR CAR JUST SLID OUT FROM UNDER YOU TO THE LEFT". IN 36 YEARS OF DRIVING, DEALING WITH DIFFERENT WEATHER, ROAD SURFACES, DAY AND NIGHT, HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED WHAT HAPPENED WITH OUR CAR. OUR INSURANCE SENT A CRASH INQUIRY, BUT NO ACCIDENT REPORTS CAME BACK. SHE SUGGESTED I FILE A REPORT WITH THIS AGENCY.