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Pontiac Grand Prix Seat Belts Safety Report | May 17, 2001
Reported on May 17, 2001
| MY 6 YR. OLD DAUGHTER GOT HER NECK CAUGHT IN THE SEATBELT AFTER UNDOING IT TO HAND ME AN ICE CREAM CUP. I HEARD HER MURMUR AND LOOKED BACK, SHE WAS STRANGLING AND COULD NOT TALK. I SLOWED THE CAR CAREFULLY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BELT FROM TIGHTENING AROUND HER NECK ANY TIGHTER AND GOT OUT TO HELP HER. I WAS UNABLE TO HELP HER BECAUSE THE BELT WAS AUTOMATICALLY TIGHTENING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. A MAN IN ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED AND ASKED IF I NEEDED HELP. HE HAD A KNIFE AND WE HAD TO CUT THE SEATBELT OFF MY CHILD. BY THAT TIME, MY DAUGHTER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO BREATHE OR SPEAK. SHE ENDED UP WITH CERVICAL ABRASIONS, A VERTABRA OUT IN HER NECK, AND WE HAD TO WATCH HER FOR CLOSED HEAD INJURY SYMPTOMS. I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANOTHER CHILD. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RELEASE LEVER TO RELEASE THE TENSION ON THE SHOULDER PART OF THE BELT, SHE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN FREED. IF I HADN'T HAVE HEARD HER MURMUR OR IF A MAN DID NOT STOP WITH A KNIFE, MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE STRANGLED TO DEATH. I AM REPORTING THIS TO THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND ALSO TO THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION. I ATTEMPTED TO GET A POLICE REPORT TAKEN BUT I WAS TOLD RATHER RUDELY BY THE STATE POLICE AND THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE A REPORT ON SUCH A THING. MORE OR LESS WHAT THEY WERE TELLING ME IS THAT MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE IS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO MAKE A REPORT ABOUT. I HAVE NO UD-10 FROM THE POLICE BUT I DO HAVE THE DOCTOR'S NOTES AND PICTURES OF MY DAUGHTERS NECK AND THE CUT SEATBELT. I ALSO HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE MAN WHO CUT THE BELT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Grand Prix |
| Manufactured by: | General Motors LLC |
| Year: | 2000 |
| Was a crash reported? | |
| Was an injury reported? | 1 person(s) were injured. |
| Was a death reported? | 0 person(s) died. |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | GLADWIN MI |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 1G2WP52KXYF |
| Mileage: | |
| Speed: | 55 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | |
| Vehicle type: | FWD |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS N/A. |
| Was a police report filed? | Y |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
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