By Karin Kelly / WFAA-TV (Arlington, Texas)
Investigators, engineers and lawyers crowded around the burned Crown Victoria, the police car that last month was nearly a death trap for Arlington officer Michael Moses.
“We work the freeways in Crown Victorias every day,” says Arlington police Sgt. Jeff Pugh.
Arlington police work only in Crown Victorias -- 146 of them.
Experts with the federal goverment, Ford Motor Company and a Texas group suing the carmaker scrutinized every little piece of burned mechanics. It’s all evidence that could find its way into court if Arlington sues Ford. Crown Victoria critics maintain the fuel tank design is flawed and punctures easily in a rear end impact.
Across the country, 14 police officers have been killed in Crown Victoria crashes including a Dallas police officer. At least 15 class action lawsuits are in progress.
The Arlington officer was in the driver’s seat about to write a ticket when a suspected drunk driver slammed into the rear of his squad car. The suspect and his wife, who was traveling with him, were also injured. The fire nearly destroyed both cars. Officer Moses is recovering.
“He did have to have some skin graft surgery prior to him being released, but we expect him to make a full recovery and come back to us in the next couple of months hopefully,” Sgt. Pugh says.
The plaintiff’s engineer today determined the Arlington crash is another example of a fuel-fed fire caused by a flawed design. Ford and federal officials will soon release their respective opinions.