Crown Victoria Fires
Senator Clinton Call For Increased Safety Measures For Crown Victoria Police Vehicles
March 3, 2003
Washington, D.C – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today released a letter calling upon the U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to take immediate steps to protect the thousands of police officers – across the state and the country – who are currently driving Crown Victoria police vehicles.
Ford Ordered to Test Cop Car Safety Add-On
March 17, 2004
BY JENNIFER DIXON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
An Illinois judge has ordered Ford Motor Co. to conduct a crash test on plastic trunk packs that were offered in Crown Victoria police cars to protect gas tanks from rupturing in high-impact rear crashes.
Dallas plans to retrofit cop cars
March 5, 2004
BY SARAH A. WEBSTER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Ford Motor Co., which is being sued by dozens of cities and counties over the safety of its Crown Victoria police cars, said Thursday it will not pay for the fire suppression systems the City of Dallas plans to install on 775 of their police cars.
Crown Vic fire forever changes police officer
After 43 operations, cop caught in blaze is rebuilding his face, life
December 9, 2003
BY JENNIFER DIXON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
PHOENIX — Jason Schechterle was burned so badly when his Crown Victoria Police Interceptor caught fire that the flames mangled his hands, seared away most of his nose and ears and scorched his brown eyes, leaving him blind for seven months.
CROWN VICS: Safety concerns deserved better response from Ford
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Editorial – December 9, 2003
Ford Motor Co. did not do right by its customers in its initial response to deadly fires in Crown Victoria police cars. As reported in Monday and today's Free Press, Ford appears to have spent more energy trying to convince police agencies and government regulators that there was no problem with the cars than in addressing the genuine fears of police using them.
Rebuffed by Ford, cops look for car fixes alone
Mechanics work to stop officers' fiery deaths in Crown Victorias
DETROIT FREE PRESS
December 9, 2003
By Jennifer Dixon
Free Press Staff Writer
Last of two parts.
Mike Fuson was tired of waiting for help from Ford Motor Co. By the summer of 2001, two Arizona troopers were dead. A Phoenix cop was in the hospital, comatose and badly burned.
They all had one thing in common: Their Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor had caught fire when it was hit from behind.
AMONG THE UNHEARD STORIES: Death leaves a void in NASCAR family
New mom, sisters are trapped in a blazing Town Car limousineDETROIT FREE PRESSDecember 9, 2003By Jennifer DixonFree…
Officers Pick Crown Vic
DETROIT FREE PRESS
December 8, 2003
By Jennifer Dixon
Free Press Staff Writer
For law enforcement officers, the Ford Crown Victoria is the police car of choice. Eighty-five percent of cop cars on the road are the Crown Vic Police Interceptor, the heavy-duty, police version of the sedan.
Officers praise it as being rugged and responsive. With a V8 engine and rear-wheel drive, the Crown Vic handles well during pursuits, as they navigate harrowing turns or bounce between curb and street, police say.
Ford Stands By Its Car
DETROIT FREE PRESS
December 8, 2003
The Free Press met with Ford Motor Co. representatives Oct. 30to discuss the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor's safety record. Following are excerpts from comments made by Sue Cischke, vice president for environmental and safety engineering at Ford.
PEOPLE HAVE DIED in every vehicle out there. There's not a nameplate vehicle out there that people haven't died in, but does that make it an issue?
HERE'S A VEHICLE that's been out there from 1992 to 2003 — 350,000 of them, we believe, on the road.
Critics Say Fuel Tanks Periously Placed
DETROIT FREE PRESS
December 8, 2003
By Jennifer Dixon
Free Press Staff Writer
The Ford Crown Victoria, the Lincoln Town Car and the Mercury Grand Marquis are an old breed of big, traditional rear-wheel-drive sedans. All three vehicles get five stars from the federal government for holding up in front-end crashes, and at least four of five stars for side-impact crashes. The Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria also get top crash ratings from the well-respected Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is funded by the insurance industry.