Takata Airbag Truck Crashes, Kills One, Injures Four

September 8, 2016

One person died and four were injured when a truck carrying Takata airbag inflators exploded near Quemado, Texas. The explosion was caused by a crash that ignited the airbag propellant, destroying the trailer and incinerating a house with a woman inside.

The explosion was so powerful that engine parts were found two miles away from where the truck blew up, demonstrating the power and the dangers of the ammonium nitrate propellant used in Takata airbags.

Approximately 64 million Takata airbags have been recalled in the country’s largest-ever car safety recall. To date, the airbags have been linked to 14 fatalities and 150 injuries.

The airbags are dangerous because the ammonium nitrate propellant degrades over time, which can cause an explosion when airbags are deployed, spraying drivers and passengers with metal shrapnel.

Takata Followed Safety Requirements

An initial check by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that Takata was shipping the airbag parts safely.

The NTSB is reviewing documents to help it decide whether or not to investigate further, but two U.S. senators on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation have already called for a deeper probe of the deadly crash.

The senators want to avoid further incidents in which ammonium nitrate is being shipped on highways. This substance is also used in construction, mining and agriculture.

This is Takata’s second accident involving an ammonium nitrate explosion. The first happened in 2006 when explosions damaged a Takata factory. There were no injuries but people were forced to evacuate the area.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a Takata airbag you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and expenses. Phillips Law Group’s skilled Takata airbag attorneys offer a free initial consultation and we do not charge legal fees unless we achieve a favorable verdict or settlement.

Call 1-800-706-3000 or complete a Free Case Evaluationform to get started.