NHTSA Complaint #700950 — 1992 CHEVROLET VAN

THE CUSTOMIZED VAN, WHICH INCLUDED A TV,VCR AND NINTENDO SYSTEM, WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER, HYDROPLANED IN A RAINSTORM AND ENDED UP IN THE MEDIAN WHERE IT HIT A TREE AT THE SIDE DOOR AREA. THE 7 YEAR OLD AND THE 3 YEAR OLD SITTING ON THE SIDE OF IMPACT SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. THE 9 YEAR OLD, SITTING DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER, DIED AS A RESULT OF A CLOSED HEAD INJURY SUSTAINED WHEN THE VCR CAME OUT OF THE COMPARTMENT IN FRONT AND ABOVE HER AND STRUCK HER. THIS VCR, IN AN ENCLOSED WOOD COMPARTMENT, WAS INSTALLED WHEN WE RECEIVED THE VAN-NEW. UNKNOWN TO US, THIS EQUIPMENT WAS NOT SECURED TO THE VAN--ONLY PLACED IN A COMPARTMENT. THE TV-HOWEVER, WAS SECURED AND DID NOT MOVE FROM ITS COMPARTMENT IN THE CRASH. HAD WE DREAMED THAT OUR CHILD WAS NOT SAFE--WE WOULD HAVE SECURED IT. WE STOP MANY VAN OWNERS AND MOST SAY THE SAME THING-"OURS IS SAFE, IT IS ENCASED IN WOOD". WE CANNOT STOP EVERY VAN AND WOULD INSIST THAT OTHERS NOT GO THROUGH THIS HELL, AS WE ARE, AND THAT EACH AND EVERY VAN SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE HELP US AND RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST AND ALSO PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE. WE CANNOT PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER AT THIS TIME AS WE DO NOT HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE PAPERWORK.