NHTSA Complaint #10662229 — 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 370

I WAS SLOWING DOWN AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS OF EITHER VEHICLE WAS HURT, PER POLICE REPORT. ON MY WAY TO THE COLLISION CENTER NEAR HOME, THE CAB OF THE TRUCK FILLED SUDDENLY WITH VERY BLACK SMOKE, SO THICK I COULDN'T SEE AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TRY TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THERE WERE FLAMES IN THE CAB AS WELL. WHEN I FINALLY GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK MY CLOTHES WERE ON FIRE. I WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL AND HAD TO BE TREATED FOR 1ST AND 2ND DEGREE BURNS OF THE FACE, SCALP, EYES, CALF, AND BOTH HANDS. MY RIGHT (DOMINANT) HAND WAS BURNED THE WORST, AS I HAD TRIED TO GET TO THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER I KEPT IN THE BACK. THE ENTIRE TRUCK BURNED EXCEPT THE LAST ROW OF SEATS (PARTIALLY BURNED) AND THE BACK DOOR. I AM STILL HAVING TO GO TO A WOUND CARE CENTER ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AND MY BANDAGES HAVE TO BE CHANGED DAILY. I HAD TO GET A FLAT-TOP HAIRCUT TO GET RID OF ALL MY HAIR BURNED OFF, AND I HAVE TO HAVE HELP FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING SINCE MY "GOOD" HAND WAS THE WORST INJURED. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP SINCE, DUE TO PAIN AND NIGHTMARES ABOUT BURNING. I FEEL AS THOUGH MY LIFE HAS BEEN TORN APART, ALL BECAUSE OF SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. *TR