NHTSA Complaint #754319 — 1999 DODGE RAM

I HAD STOPPED AT A BOAT RAMP TO LAUNCH BOAT. I TIED END OF ROPE TO BUMBER OF TRUCK AND THE OTHER END TO THE BOAT. I THEN WAS GOING TO BACK DOWN TO WATER UNTIL BOAT FLOATED OFF TRAILER AND THEN PULL AHEAD, STOP AND GET ROPE AND TIE BOAT TO DOCK. THE ROPE SNAGGED ON THE BUMBER OF TRUCK SO I PULLED UP, STOPPED, GOT OUT OF TRUCK AND WALKED TO BACK OF TRUCK. I GOT ROPE OFF OF BUMBER AND WAS COILING IT ON THE FRONT OF THE BOAT WHEN THE TRUCK JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND ALMOST INJURED ME TWICE. ONCE WHEN IT ALMOST BACKED OVER ME AND ONCE WHEN I TRIED TO GET INTO IT TO PUT INTO GEAR, BUT WAS TOO LATE AND TRUCK ENTERED WATER AND SUNK. EVERYONE SAYS THAT I LEFT GEAR IN REVERSE, BUT HOW DID I GET OUT AND WALK TO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK BEFORE IT STARTED TO MOVE?? I THINK TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS.*AK