WASHINGTON (Feb. 7, 2001) — The number of fatalities in the U.S. linked to Firestone P-metric light truck tires has risen by 26 to 174, according to the latest figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Since its last accident database update Dec. 6, NHTSA has received 1,700 new reports, including more than 1,000 from a single attorney. None of the newly reported deaths occurred after Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. started the recall of 6.5 million Firestone ATX and Wilderness AT models Aug. 9.
Of the 26 new fatality reports, 19 were submitted to NHTSA by Safetyforum.com, a plaintiffs´ attorney-funded research body, which submitted dozens of new accident reports culled from its database of more than 280 personal injury lawsuits on file across the U.S. involving Firestone tires.
The release of the updated database and increase in fatality count prompted Safetyforum.com to renew its call for a broader recall of all Wilderness AT tires, regardless of size or place of manufacture.