Couple Files Suit Against Ford Over Son's Death

A couple has filed suit against Ford Motor Co. and TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. after their son sustained fatal personal injuries when his Ford vehicle rolled over and he was ejected.

On December 17, Sandra Divin and Jerry Divin filed suit, both individually and as a representative of the estate of Gregory Divin, in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas, naming Ford and TRW as defendants.

According to the suit, Gregory Divin, a minor, was driving a 1996 Ford Ranger on May 5 when he lost control of the vehicle, which went into a side skid, overturned, and ejected him. The suit said that he was wearing his seat belt, but was ejected when the restraint system failed.

The suit alleges negligence on the part of the defendants for manufacturing an unreasonably dangerous and defective vehicle. The suit specifically states that the seat belt webbing was not in compliance with federal statutes and tore apart and destroyed the effectiveness and crashworthiness of the restraint.