NHTSA Complaint #10350885 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 WINDSTAR ON THE SKUYKILL EXPRESSWAY ON MONDAY, JULY 19, 2010 AT 12:33 PM ON MY WAY TO AN APPOINTMENT. ABOUT A QUARTER MILE BEFOR THE GILPH MILLS EXIT HEADING EAST, I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE TRAVELING ABOUT 55-60 MPH, WHEN THERE WAS A LOAD "POP" FROM THE REAR OF MY VAN. I IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROLL OF THE VAN AND IT SLID ACROSS THE HIGHWAY . I FIRST HIT THE EMBANKMENT OFF THE SHOULDER, WAS THROWN BACK INTO THE HIGHWAY AS THE VAN SLIDE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THE VAN CAME TO REST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SKUYKILL EXPRESSWAY UPSIDE DOWN, FACING THE TRAFFIC. THANK GOD ALL TRAFFIC STOPPED AND NO ONE HIT ME, AND I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE.. THE VAN WAS TOTALLED. I SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES, AS WELL AS BROKEN AND BRUISED RIBS IN MY BACK, AS WELL AS SEVERE MUSCLE DAMAGE. I WAS ABLE TO UNHOOK MY SEAT BELT AND CRAWL OUT THE WINDOW, AND I WAITED TILL HELP CAME. AS I LOOKED AT THE UPSIDE DOWN VAN, I DID SEE THAT THE REAR AXLES WAS SPLIT IN HALF. I WAS TAKEN TO BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT, AND RELEASED SEVERAL DAYS LATER. I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE OF MY BACK ISSUES. *TR