NHTSA Complaint #10617533 — 2009 CADILLAC CTS

CADILLAC CTS WAS RENTED, OCT 1, 2009, AT 9:00 PM, AT CHARLOTTE AIRPORT. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CTS HOME ON JOSH BIRMINGHAM PARKWAY. I WAS BEHIND HIM IN OUR CAR. WE WERE BOTH ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD, NEAR THE OLD DOWD ROAD OVERPASS. MY HUSBAND SIGNALED ME THAT HE WAS MOVING TO THE SHOULDER TO STOP. I WAS RIGHT BEHIND HIM, ON THE SHOULDER. HE SLOWED TO LESS THAN 5MPH. I SAW HIS BRAKE LIGHTS. BUT, HIS CAR DIDN'T STOP. IT CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD AT A WEIRDLY SLOW SPEED. BRAKES? THEN SLOWLY, AT A VERY SLIGHT ANGLE, THE RIGHT TIRE ROLLED OFF THE SHOULDER. THE REAR TIRES FOLLOWED. STEERING? OFF-ROAD, IT CROSSES THE DITCH TO THE RIGHT. HIS LEFT FRONT TIRE HITS AN ALUMINUM BARRICADE. THE END IS BURIED INTO THE GROUND. THE CTS TURNED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. WHEELS STRADDLED THE RAILING, "RIDING" IT. IT LURCHED AS THE UNDERCARRIAGE HIT EACH POST. SPARKS SHOWERED DOWN. ONCE ALL THE TIRES WERE OFF THE GROUND, THE CTS CAME TO A STOP. THE WHEELS WERE STILL TURNING, AS I WALKED UP TO HIS DOOR. MY HUSBAND WAS SLUMPED OVER AND UNRESPONSIVE. HIS SEATBELT WAS ON. AIRBAGS? THEY HAD NOT DEPLOYED. I CALLED 911. 10 MINUTES LATER FIRE, EMT AND POLICE ARRIVED. I WAS IN SHOCK, SO THE POLICE REPORT HAD MAJOR ERRORS. IT CLAIMS THE CAR "ROLLED-OVER." NO! CLAIMS THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD AT 45MPH AND HIT THE BARRICADE. NO! THAT HIS DEATH WAS CAUSED BY AN UNRELATED MEDICAL CONDITION. NO! THE CORONER'S OFFICIAL REPORT CLEARLY STATES THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS DUE TO "BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA FROM THE ACCIDENT".) THE POLICE OFFICER WHO WROTE THE OFFICIAL REPORT WENT ON VACATION FOR WEEKS. REPORT WAS NEVER CORRECTED BY ME. GM ANALYZED SDM DATA (DEC 2009). THEIR DATE FOR THE ACCIDENT WAS WRONG, NOV 1, 2009. THEY CLAIM THE SDM EXONERATES THE CADILLAC CTS. THEY BLAMED THE ACCIDENT ON OPERATOR ERROR. I KNOW MY HUSBAND WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY SAFE DRIVER, EXPERT MECHANIC AND AVID CAR ENTHUSIAST FOR 50 YEARS.