NHTSA Complaint #11074919 — 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

ON THURSDAY FEB. 15, 2018 IN HARLINGEN, TX I ENTERED THE EXPRESSWAY THEN PLANNED TO IMMEDIATELY GET OFF AS THIS BYPASSES A TWISTY FRONTAGE ROAD. WHEN WE (MY WIFE AND ANOTHER COUPLE) GOT TO THE TOP OF THE RAMP AND ON THE EXIT LANE, WE COULD SEE THAT DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND ALL THREE LANES WERE FILLED WITH STOPPED TRAFFIC. AS WE APPROACHED THE EXIT, THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT A RAPID RATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND IT WOULD NOT WORK. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR, BUT COULDN'T. IT CONTINUED TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. WE WENT FROM 20 MPH TO VERY FAST IN A MATTER OF FEET. WE HAD NOWHERE TO GO. WE HIT A TAN CAR ON THE LEFT BACK SIDE WHICH IN TURN FLIPPED OUR CAR. IT ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES THEN CAME TO A STOP ON ITS LEFT SIDE UP AGAINST THE CEMENT BARRIER. THE CAR FILLED WITH A TOXIC SMOKE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE WHAT WAS IN THE AIR BAGS. WE COULD HEAR PEOPLE OUTSIDE TRYING TO BREAK THE WINDSHIELD TO GET US OUT, BUT IT WOULDN'T BREAK. SEVERAL MEN REACHED UP AND HELD THE DOOR OPEN WHICH WAS ON TOP NOW. THEY REACHED IN AND PULLED MY WIFE OUT. SHE WAS OK. THE MEN OPENED THE BACK HATCH AND GOT THE REST OUT THAT WAY. WE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. I REFUSED TREATMENT AS I WAS FINE. MY WIFE WAS IN A HEAD BRACE AS SHE SAID MY NECK WAS A BIT SORE. IT TURNED OUT THAT SHE HAD A CERVICAL STRAIN AND SOME BRUISING ON HER LEG, ARM AND STOMACH. OUR FRIEND HAD SOME CHEST CONTUSIONS, BUT WAS OK. HIS WIFE HOWEVER, WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN. HER STOMACH WAS SWELLING AND SHE HAD BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT. SHE ALSO HAD A COMPRESSED # L12 VERTEBRAE. SHE WAS ADMITTED AND SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE ICU. THE NEXT DAY HER HUSBAND SAID SHE WAS STILL IN A LOT OF PAIN, BUT WAS OUT OF THE ICU. SHE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL WED. FEB. 21, 2018 TO AWAIT PLACEMENT IN A REHAB HOSPITAL. *LN*JB