Texas police officer sues Ford because his SUV allegedly poisoned him
A police officer in Texas is bringing the heat against Ford. He is suing the automaker because his SUV allegedly poisoned him. The officer claims that his Ford Explorer police interceptor was leaking carbon monoxide that nearly killed him.
Texas police officer sues Ford over alleged poisoning
Jeremy Bellamy is a police officer in San Antonio, Texas who is taking a stand against Ford. He is suing the automaker because his SUV allegedly poisoned him.
He claims that his Ford Explorer police interceptor nearly killed him during patrols. According to KSAT, Bellamy filed a lawsuit after waking up in the hospital.
He was in his patrol unit with the engine idling to provide accessory power when he passed out. Luckily, a woman noticed that Bellamy was unconscious in the SUV and called 911. He was in the SUV for about three hours before being rushed to a local hospital.
A blood test showed that he had acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, he’s not alone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into the matter.
It found that Ford police interceptor utility models have exhaust leaks that could be attributed to the up-fitting of police vehicles. Installing the lights, cages, sirens, and auxiliary power could be responsible.
Ford claims that Bellamy wasn’t exposed to harmful levels of carbon dioxide in his vehicle. It claims that he fell asleep in the SUV due to preexisting medical conditions, including hypersomnia.
Other officers have filed similar lawsuits. However, the defect could be caused by the installation of equipment by police, instead of being related to the vehicle.
