WASHINGTON—The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating two fatal February 2014 crashes—one in Louisiana and one in Florida—that were allegedly caused by tire failures.
The NTSB said both tires in question were manufactured by Michelin North America Inc. The crash in Florida involved a BFGoodrich Commercial T/A AS tire which was part of a July 2012 recall of approximately 794,000 tires for possible tread belt separation leading to tread and air loss, according to the agency.
The Florida crash occurred Feb. 21 on Interstate 75 in Lake City, Fla., the NTSB said. The driver of a Ford E360 XLT 15-passenger van lost control after the tread allegedly separated from the left rear tire, which was
one of the recalled BFGoodrich tires.
The van, which contained three adults and seven children, rolled over. Two of the adults and two of the children were ejected from the vehicle, the NTSB said. The two ejected adults died, and the other passengers were injured.
The Louisiana accident occurred Feb. 15 on U.S. Highway 90 near Centerville, La. A 2004 Kia Sorento was traveling westbound when, according to the agency, the left rear tire—a 10-year-old Michelin Cross Terrain—reportedly lost its tread.
The Kia spun out of control, crossed the median and collided with an eastbound school bus carrying 34 members of the Lafayette High School baseball team, the NTSB said. The driver of the Kia and three of his passengers were ejected from the vehicle and killed; the fourth passenger, who wore his shoulder belt, was seriously injured. The driver of the school bus and 30 of the 34 passengers received injuries ranging from minor to serious, the agency said.
A Michelin spokesman told Tire Business the company is cooperating fully with the investigations and will continue to do so.