[j809]

End of Watch: Thursday, May 22, 2003

Trooper Newton was killed when his patrol car, a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria, was struck from behind while he was making a traffic stop on the shoulder of I-70 near Odessa, Missouri at 0700 hours. The patrol car burst into flames upon impact and Trooper Newton was trapped inside. The driver of the vehicle he had stopped and the driver of the truck that struck his patrol car were both injured in the accident.

I thought they had a recall and fixed this problem.

 

[Gil]

Supposedly they did, question is was the troopers cruiser ever downed for the repair?

To tell ya the truth I'm not sure if any of my departments cruisers were ever fixed in regards to the recall. You would figure a memo of some-type would have been generated stated the status of the recalled vehicles.

Looking into that on Tuesday when the mechanic is back in :ermm:

 

[Gil]

The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Controversy

Shit...didn't even notice that was a 2003! :up: WTF

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The Ford Crown Victoria has come been under scrutiny because of gas-tank fires and explosions with Crown Victoria police cruisers. There are about 350,000 Crown Victoria Police Interceptors on the road. An estimated 13 police officers, including three in Arizona and a recent fatality involving a police officer near Dallas, Texas that is under investigation, have died in accidents allegedly where the car's gas tank exploded following high speed, rear-end crashes. Critics say the Crown Victoria's danger stems from the placement of its gas tank, which is between the rear bumper and the rear axle.

On September 27, 2002, Ford Motor Company and the Arizona Attorney General announced that the auto maker will install and pay for fuel-tank shields on Crown Victoria Interceptor police vehicles. During a press briefing, Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano said Ford will offer an upgrade kit, which will include the shields. The company also said it will offer an optional trunk package, which is designed to help police officers carry sharp-edged heavy equipment more safely.

All police department orders of Crown Victoria Police Interceptors will be built with the fuel-tank shields from today forward, Ford said.

While pleased that Ford agreed to make the modifications, it was reported that the families of some victims said independent testing on the fix should be done. "We welcome Ford's efforts, but the consequences of an ineffective solution to this problem can be fatal. We cannot risk that," stated Ann Marie Nielsen in an Associated Press article. Her husband Robert Nielsen, a police officer in Chandler, Arizona, was killed on June 12, 2002, after his patrol car collided with another car and burst into flames.

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Guess the added shield did nothing to prevent the explosion.

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More Info:

http://www.ntctroopers.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/09/27/3dda62c562b92
http://www.lieffcabraser.com/ford-victoria.htm
http://www.accidentreconstruction.com/news/sep02/092702b.asp
http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=96&did=519

 

[tomahawk]

The Missouri trooper had a 2003 CV, but it still could have been manufactured before Ford announced they were adding the shield as standard equipment.

Hopefully, his cruiser did not have the shield; if he did... maybe those Impala's are not so bad after all! :roll:

-Mike

 

[Gil]

maybe those Impala's are not so bad after all! :roll:

-Mike

I would be interested in the Dodge package... anyone in MA beside the FEDs using the Intrepid?

 

[Foxracingmtnridr]

That is a schweet looking car!!

I really like the Impalas though. unk:

But the should definately bring back the 9C1 [-o<


Scott c:

 

[j809]

Mass State Police got some 2003 Intrepids, i believe they are all unmarked. We're getting Impalas. Another thing I heard that could cause the explosions are the strobes. The guys that do all the installs of equipment around us said that a cruiser was rear ended and the lightbar flew off and landed in the trunk area and exploded. There are alot of Joules in strobes. they should look and see if all these cruisers tha exploded had rear taillight strobes. They should look at the powerpacks, they are in the trunk usually on the left side of the trunk near the fuel kill switch release button. I own a 2003 PI and I am making sure I never sit in it while its stopped on a detail.

 

[Crvtte65]

I think what usually causes the fires is the fact that these cruisers are getting rearended at 70 MPH. The whole "exploding cruiser" thing is mostly media hype. You hit any parked car at 70+ and odds are the gas tank is going to split open and anything from a taillight wire to hot exhaust parts to some nitwit chucking a smoke out their window as they rubberneck by will set it off. Correct me if I'm wrong, but CV's have electric fuel pumps - located in the fuel tank.

Short of putting the gas tanks in the front seat, all the shields and plastic straps in the world aren't going to do much. I'd just as soon have a whole boatload of lights in the ass end to avoid getting hit in the first place.

Thank you for seeing through it all =D>

 

[bpd145]

Gil:

Athol, MA is running 2 marked Intrepids on their front line.

I happened to take an Impala for a spin during EVOC at Devens. I was impressed by the way the car handled. The unit I drove did not have an MDT, but add that computer and it would be really tight inside. I also believe the Chevy has more leg-room in the prisoner area compared to the Crown Vics.

 

[LeadDog17]

I also believe the Chevy has more leg-room in the prisoner area compared to the Crown Vics.

Yeah?? So what??

No offense, but I don't think anyone here really cares about that! :wink:
:L: :L: :L:

-Eric

 

[mpd61]

Designed and built from the ground up to be cop cars. Only car in production that can claim that right now.

Fuocok, don't talk like a silly fudge-packer!

 

[harper]

The main cause for the explosions are the equipment, electronics, jacks, flares, radios, etc. in the trunk, not the car. Everyone wants to blame the car...what about the people who are dumb enough to rearend one! How many tail-light strobes did the cruiser have? Lots of sparks are possible.

 

[harper]

Wheres the Impala's fuel tank, the front bumper? Nope, same location. Rearend one of those at 70 and tell me it wont explode. Any vehicle rearended like those would explode. Besides, how many of the crashes were looked at to see if the vehicle that hit the cruiser didn't explode first? Instead, the media starts an uproar with all the hype and everyone believes and listens to them. Of all the tests and studies I've read, noone has proven the cvpi explodes.