Crown Victoria Police Interceptor

DATE	EVENT
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September 29	Two Ohio highway patrol troopers and a civilian die in a fiery collision near Gallipolis, Ohio, when the civilian’s pickup smashes into the trooper’s Crown Victoria patrol car. The 2005 patrol car was equipped with shields.
July 22	19-year-old fashion model Heather Bratton burns to death when her hired car, a Crown Victoria, is struck by an SUV and bursts into flame enroute from the Trenton, NJ airport.
January 18	Families of three North Carolina sisters burned to death in a Ford Lincoln Town Car limousine in 2005, reach a confidential settlement with Ford.
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December 30	U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, again asks Ford for a “major overhaul” of the Crown Victoria to make it safe from fuel-fed fires.
December 26	New York City cab driver Gurbaj Singh burns to death when his Crown Victoria taxi is struck by a minivan and explodes in fire.
November 25	Denton County, Texas, Deputy Bill Wilson is severely burned when his Crown Victoria police car is struck from behind at a red light. The cruiser was equipped with safety shields.
October 14	San Antonio Police Officer John Wheeler, 41, is killed when his Crown Victoria police car, parked on a highway shoulder, is struck from behind and explodes in flames.
May 1	A 2003 Lincoln Town Car stretch limousine burst into flames after being hit from behind while traveling on SR 93 in Florida, severely and permanently injuring passenger Diane Huseman and burning her husband, Roger Huseman.
April 20	A Illinois jury faults Ford in a Lincoln Town Car fuel fed fire death case and awards the victim's family $43.7 million. John Jablonski was killed in July 2003, and his wife severely burned, when another car rear-ended his 1993 Lincoln and it burst into flames.
January	Ford begins enforcing its threat to take punitive action against police departments who join class actions against them to force CVPI safety improvements. Ford is refusing to sell them additional CVPI's.
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October 16	Police officer in Alberta, Canada barely escapes fire death after rear of his CVPI skids into lamp pole and explodes into flames.
October 15	Illinois jury class action is swayed by Ford's defense that it cannot build a car safe enough to withstand high-speed rear-end crashes. Plaintiffs in class action appeal the decision, noting many fatal crashes have involved low-speeds.
October 2003	New York cab driver Mohammed Abu Yousef dies after his Crown Victoria taxi is rear-ended and bursts into flame. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, asks Ford to redesign the Ford model to make it safer.
September 24	Prairie View, TX police officer Jerome Sobieski is killed when his CVPI is rear-ended and explodes into flames.
September 13	First class action lawsuit against Ford Crown Victoria goes to trial in St. Clair County, Ill.
September 10	Three sisters are burned to death near Greensboro, North Carolina, when their Lincoln Town Car limousine is struck from behind, trapping them inside, and explodes in flames.
September 10	Ohio trooper injured after her CVPI is rear-ended by large truck and bursts instantly into flames.
August 11	Phoenix Police Officer announces settlement of lawsuit against Ford for CVPI fire and injuries. Officer Jason Schechterle says he has been working for officer safety.
July 23	Arlington, Texas Police Officer Michael Moses is rescued from a fiery rear-end crash in his Ford CVPI and is helicoptered to Parkland Hospital with injuries. Moses survives fire.
July 22	Arlington Police Officer Michael Moses, 30, is severely burned after his Crown Victoria police car is struck from behind while he is stopped on the shoulder of I-30.
July 2003	Illinois resident John Jablonski, 73, is burned to death and his wife, Dora, is severely and permanently injured when their Lincoln Town Car is struck from behind by a drunk driver while stopped at a construction site.
May 29	The family of deceased Dallas Police Officer Patrick Metzler announces settlement of a lawsuit with Ford Motor Company.
May 21	A federal judge in Cleveland sends 15 class action lawsuits against the Ford Crown Victoria police car back to state courts for trial.
May 12	City of Dallas receives approval to convert 175 CVPI's to natural gas power
March 11-15	Judge in State Class Action Case in St. Clair County Illinois orders Ford to crash test the trunk pack safety device. Ford announces its intent to appeal the order.
March 4	After a CVPI wreck with massive fuel leakage but no fire, the City of Dallas decides to add the Fire Panel safety device to its CVPI fleet. The City asks Ford to pay the cost. Ford refuses.
January 30	The City of Philadelphia announces it has filed a lawsuit against Ford to force it to make Crown Victorias safer for police offers and to force Ford to pay for safety improvements. The city joins other cities and police departments in at least eight states: Florida, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Arizona and Louisiana—that have taken legal action against Ford.
January 22	City of Philadelphia sues Ford
January	City of Philadelphia filed lawsuit claiming that the Ford Motor Co.'s CVPI has a defect that can cause it to explode if hit from behind.
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December 8	Detroit Free Press publishes 3-part investigation of CVPI. Says deaths underestimated: 30 died from 1992-2001, not government figure of 16.
November 25	Federal government boosts rear crash standard from 30 mph to 50 mph
November 3	Fire PANEL releases cash test showing fire suppression system prevents fire in 79 mph crash rigged to puncture and ignite fuel tank.
October 25	Boone County, Iowa sheriff's deputy narrowly escapes injury when parked patrol car struck from behind and explodes. He is outside the car at the time.
September 12	U.S, Sen. Charles Schumer urges Ford to retrofit existing Crown Victorias with fire suppression system.
September	Fuel Safe Systems release CVPI crash test showing bladder protects against leakage in 75 mph rear impact.
August 8	Ford announces it will install new fire suppression system beginning with 2005 models
July 25	Truck driver is charged in Patrolman Newton's death.
July 16	City of Dallas announces crash test of Ford trunk pack resulted in massive fuel tank split and spillage.
June 17	The family of Missouri State Trooper Michael Newton files suit against Ford. Michael Nolte, who was seriously burned in the crash, also files suit.
June 3	Ford tells the city of Dallas it can do nothing more to make the CVPI safer.
June	Bipartisan National Association of Attorneys General form a task force to investigate the Crown Victoria police car.
May 31	Lawyers for St. Clair County and Centreville, Illinois ask a state judge to certify all law enforcement agencies in Illinois as part of a class action suit against Ford over the safety of the CVPI.
May 30	The head of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police asks the city to reconsider purchasing Crown Victorias for police agencies.
May 29	Dallas City Attorney Madeleine Johnson announces the city will conduct its own independent crash tests of shield and trunk pack equipped CVPI's. Dallas asks NHTSA to reopen its investigation of the CVPI.
May 28	Dallas Mayor Linda Miller announces the city will suspend Crown Vic purchases.
May 28	New York U.S. Senator Charles Schumer sends a letter to NHTSA requesting it reopen its investigation into the safety of the Ford Crown Victoria police car.
May 22	Missouri State Highway Patrol Officer Michael Newton, 25, burns to death after his 2003 Crown Victoria Police car is rear-ended and explodes in flames, trapping him inside.
May 17	An unoccupied Dallas police cruiser equipped with shields bursts into flames.
May 3	An unoccupied Washington D.C. police cruiser equipped with shields bursts into flames after being rear-ended during a traffic stop.
March 1	Ford Motor Company is misleading the public about safety of the CVPI. Their crash test confirms this, according to Dallas City Attorney Madeleine B. Johnson.
February 18	Arizona Police Officer Jason Schechterle, severely burned in 2001 in a Crown Victoria explosion, files a lawsuit against Ford.
February 18	Philip and Patricia Metzler, the parents of Dallas Police Officer Patrick Metzler, file a lawsuit against Ford.
February 14	The family of New York State Trooper Robert Ambrose, killed Dec. 19, sues Ford for more than $250 million, alleging negligence in the manufacture of the Crown Victoria police car.
February 13	Suburban New Orleans Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Ragas asks for class-action status in a lawsuit against Ford filed in Louisiana State District Court. He claims the upgrade to the Crown Victoria fuel tank "is insufficient, inadequate and may increase the risk" of injury or death.
January 30	Ford agrees to give the City of Dallas information about CVPI crash tests in conjunction with litigation before a Cleveland federal court. Depositions were to take place over the next few weeks.
January 29	The National Association of Police Organizations, Inc., files a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court claiming Ford failed to fix a defect in Crown Victoria police cars that causes them to erupt into flames when rear-ended. The suit seeks information about Ford's retrofit. The organization represents 1000 police departments and 200,000 officers nationwide.
January 27	Illinois Sheriff's Association recommends a moratorium on purchases of Crown Victoria police cars until the vehicles can be proven safe and the assurance is backed by independent tests. The group also votes to join in class action lawsuits against Ford on the issue.
January 16	Louisiana Attorney General Richard Leyoub recommends an immediate moratorium Crown Victoria police car purchases until Ford can assure they will not burst into flames when rear-ended, and backs that assurance with independent testing.
January 2	NY State troopers announce they will not drive Crown Victoria police cars until they are retrofitted with fuel tank shields. A day later, NY State Police order the cars parked until modifications are made.
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December 20	Dallas City Attorney Madeleine Johnson announces her intention to sue Ford over its refusal to provide additional details about the crash test Ford conducted in support of its latest "fix" of Crown Vic fuel fed fires.She cites evidence showing the crash test failed two federal standards for fuel leakage, and used sand bags in the trunk to absorb impact.
December 19	New York State Trooper Robert W. Ambrose, 31, is killed when his Crown Victoria is slammed from behind by a Jeep Cherokee. Bystanders try to free him, but are unsuccessful.
November 6	Two Torrance County, CA, officers are rendered unconscious when their cruiser is struck from behind, and awake to find the car engulfed in flames. They are pulled to safety by bystanders.
October 23	Dallas Police Officer Patrick Metzler, 31, is killed when his car explodes after being struck by a drunk driver. His car is equipped with TSB modifications.
October	Just hours before this most recent fiery tragedy involving a CVPI, the Federal Panel on Multi-District Litigation ordered all Ford Crown Victoria class action cases be centralized in Federal Court in Cleveland, before Federal Judge Donald C. Nugent.
September 27	Ford announces their second CVPI "fix" in 12 months: a series of fuel tank shields. Consumer groups and victims' families urge independent testing of recommendations.
September 4	Victims' families and national auto safety groups urge Ford to recall Crown Victoria cruiser; fire experts announce availability of military and racing industry technology to prevent CVPI explosions.
August 5	Hinsdale, N. Y. Police Trooper George Rought is injured when his patrol car is struck from the rear by a pickup hauling a cattle trailer and explodes. His car had undergone TSB modifications.
August 5	City of Hoover, Alabama, files a class action suit against Ford.
July 11	State of Florida temporarily suspends purchase of all Crown Victoria police cars.
July	Cities and police departments of Malvern and Little Rock, Arkansas, file class action suit against Ford.
July 9	Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, files a class action suit against Ford.
July 4	Sgt. Gregg Abbott, of Cobb County, Georgia, narrowly escapes death through a passenger window when his Ford police car is rear-ended by a truck at highway speed and bursts into flames. His cruiser had undergone the October 2001 TSB modifications.
July 2	Attorney David Perry files a class action lawsuit on behalf of Nueces County, Texas, against Ford on behalf of all Texas municipalities.
June 25	Ford announces one Blue Ribbon Panel to study police procedures and one Technical Task Force to study CVPI safety issues.
June 25	AZ Attorney Gen. Janet Napolitano meets with Ford representatives in Dearborn, MI.
June 25	Ford announces formation of two panels to study issue.
June 21	Arizona Gov. Hull asks NHTSA to investigate the Crown Victoria, including independent testing of the vehicle to insure its safety.
June 15	Arizona law enforcement organizations call for a ban on purchase of CVPI's.
June 12	Officer Robert Nielsen, Chandler, Arizona, killed in 2000 CVPI fire.
June 4	Ford officials meet again with Arizona AG Napolitano.
May 30	Columbia County, Florida, Deputy Sheriff Jeff Davis dies of injuries he received in a CVPI fuel-fed fire on May 29.
May 8-10	Ford settles lawsuit in four Crown Victoria fire deaths: Fink, Cruz, Agner, and Rivera.
March	Fuel Safe voluntarily provides Ford with four first-generation prototypes of a fuel tank bladder for the Crown Victoria. Fuel Safe learns Ford is saying the bladders were tested and leaked. In a letter dated March 7, Fuel Safe offers to provide Ford with later-generation bladders if they will agree to a joint testing protocol with Fuel Safe. The offer is repeated in June and again in August, but Ford has no response.
March 4	Attorney General Napolitano, claiming Ford presented misleading information in earlier meeting, sends a letter to Ford requesting CVPI recall.
February	Ford representatives meet with Arizona AG Janet Napolitano.
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December 11	Three men, ages 19-22, burn to death in Alabama when their 1994 Ford Crown Victoria (a former police cruiser) explodes into flames after going out of control and striking a pole.
November	NHTSA begins probe.
October 31	Attorney David Perry sends letter to NHTSA reporting on all deaths and injuries known about the CVPI, as well as copy of internal Ford memo about July 3 meeting.
October	Ford issues Technical Service Bulletin (TSB), acknowledging higher risk of high speed rear-end crashes for law officers. Recommended modifications become standard, starting with 2002 models.
August 12	California Officer Stephen Linen -- 2000 CVPI fire death.
July	City of Tempe, Arizona, begins to modify its CVPI's.
July 3	According to internal Ford memo, Ford met with NHTSA staff on this date and "got an agreement NHTSA will not open" an investigation.
June 5	NHTSA staff, noting six deaths and two injuries reported, recommends opening investigation into CVPI deaths.
Spring	Center for Auto Safety forwards CVPI cases to NHTSA and requests investigation.
March 26	Officer Jason Schechterle, of Phoenix, Arizona, is severely burned in 1996 model Crown Victoria.
January 28	Juan Rivera, of Stoughton, Massachusetts, while taking shelter in a 1999 CVPI , is seriously injured.
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December 5	Lawsuit filed in the death of Arizona Officer Cruz.
July 26	Trooper Lynn Ross, Jackson, Tennessee, killed in 1998 model CVPI.
February 18	Trooper Floyd J. "Skip" Fink, Temple, Arizona, killed in 1999 model CVPI.
January 30	Officer Alan Neel, Taylor, Texas, injured in 2000 model CVPI.
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1999	North Carolina Highway Patrol and the cities of Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona, ask Ford to look into the fire safety of CVPI's.
July 26	Florida Highway Patrol issues "Patrol Car Crashes Rear-End Collision Study, 1999."
July 26	Deputy Steven Agner, Madison, Florida, killed in 1999 model CVPI.
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December 9	Trooper Juan Cruz , Tucson, Arizona, killed in 1996 model CVPI.
May 19	Trooper Hung Le, Ponchatowa, Louisiana, killed in 1996 model CVPI.
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August 25	Officer Melanie Funk, Deerfield, Beach, FL; injured in 1996 model CVPI.
August 2	Trooper Howard Kimble, Lise, Illinois, injured in 1996 model CVPI.
July 26	Trooper Robert Smith, Miami Shores, Florida, killed in 1996 model CVPI.
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April 13	Officer Tom Ludford, Bloomington, Minnesota, injured in 1993 model CVPI.
February 9	PFC Vincent Julia, Wilmington, Delaware, killed in 1994 model CVPI.
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November 13	Officer Ed Truelove, Cheshire, Connecticut, killed in 1989 model CVPI.
September 20	Sheriff Thomas Randall Shelton, Fayetteville, Tennessee, injured in 1992 model CVPI.
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December 17	Officer Drew Brown, Kennesaw, Georgia, killed in 1983 model CVPI.
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March 5	Officer Edward Villemaire, Dearborn, Michigan, injured in Ford LTD fire. (Same platform as Crown Victoria)
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1978	Ford introduces Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI's).