So Chrysler's remedy involved installing trailer hitches on the rear of the Jeeps as an extra layer of protection. Moving the gas tank in front of the axle would be expensive and difficult. The rear-mounted tanks have little structure to protect them if struck from behind, making them susceptible to punctures and fires. But safety advocates and the lawyer for White's family say the blame belongs as much, if not more, on Chrysler and an auto-industry safety system that moves too slowly to prevent tragedy. Last week, prosecutors charged the Cadillac driver with committing a moving violation that caused a death. And White's Jeep was not among those fixed. But only 12 percent of the SUVs have been repaired in the 18 months since the recall, a much slower pace than usual. White is one of more than 70 people killed in fires involving older Jeeps with plastic fuel tanks mounted behind the rear axle.įiat Chrysler, which makes Jeeps, recalled 1.56 million of them in June 2013 under pressure from U.S. White, a 23-year-old restaurant hostess who was eight months pregnant, died of burns and smoke inhalation. Firefighters arrived in just three minutes but were too late. Other drivers ran to help but were forced back by the heat. Her red 2003 Jeep Liberty bounced off a Nissan in front of it, rolled onto its side and exploded in flames. DETROIT | As Kayla White slowed her SUV behind two other cars to exit a suburban Detroit freeway on Veterans Day, it was rammed from behind by a Cadillac STS.
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