Fiat Trial On Child’s Fiery Death Seen Renewing Recall Push
The Georgia trial over the death of 4-year old Remington Walden in 2012 is renewing demand by safety advocates for a massive recall of older Jeeps.
Lawyers for Remington Waldens family claim the boy died screaming in a fire so intense his chest fused to the Jeeps door.
The 4-year-old died in 2012 when his aunts Jeep Grand Cherokee erupted into flames after being rear-ended at an intersection. While his aunt was able to escape through a drivers side window, she failed to reach the child.
A medical examiner reportedly determined the child, strapped to a booster seat, was probably alive in the flames for as long as a minute. The position of his body reportedly shows he died struggling to get out of the vehicle.
Adding Insult To Injury
Even worse, in court filings the Waldens allege, the car maker knew of the danger -- caused by the fuel tanks placement 11 inches from the rear bumper -- and ignored it for years.
Fiat Chrysler denies these allegations and maintains the fuel tank safety of the vehicles in question, exceed federal standards.
Recalls & Investigations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, initially investigated the 1999 Jeep model involved in the Walden case and included it in a broad recommended recall. In 2013, the agency decided to exclude it from a recall covering two other models made over 15 years.
Safety advocates say the case may put Fiat Chrysler at risk of a scandal on a par with GM's faulty ignition switches.
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