Autopsy: Exploding air bag killed Texas man

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Autopsy: Exploding air bag killed Texas man

The Associated Press

First Published Feb 09 2015 06:30PM • Last Updated Feb 09 2015 06:30 pm

Houston • An autopsy has found that a metal disc from a defective air bag sliced into a Texas man's neck and killed him after a low-speed car accident last month near Houston. ... The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences concluded that Carlos Solis had suffered no other serious injuries, and his death was accidental. The report, which became public late last week, listed the cause of death as blunt-force injuries to the neck.

Solis, 35, a father of two, died Jan. 18 in the Houston suburb of Spring. His 2002 Honda Accord had a driver's air bag made by Takata Corp. of Japan. Those can inflate with too much force, causing them to blow apart a metal inflator canister and send shrapnel into the passenger compartment.
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The white metal disc was 2¾ inches in diameter and weighed about 13 ounces, according to the report. It caused a gaping cut in Solis' neck that severed an artery and vein. "Appearance consisted of a slightly distorted air bag inflator component," the report stated. The disc lodged in the right side of Solis' neck near his shoulder, according to the report.
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Solis bought the car in April from an independent dealer in the Houston area. It was part of 2011 recall to fix a defective driver's air bag inflator, but neither the dealer nor two previous owners had the recall repairs done. Honda has said it mailed recall notification letters to a previous owner of the Accord starting in 2011, but it had not yet sent a letter to Solis. The company urged anyone with a vehicle recalled for air bag problems to take the cars to dealers as soon as possible. ... Solis' family is suing Honda, Takata and the dealer who sold Solis the car.

The goal must be 100% recall notification, repair

Regulation And Safety » Editorials
EDITORIAL

Automotive News
February 9, 2015 - 12:01 am ET

On Jan. 18, Carlos Solis IV died in a crash of his 2002 Honda Accord. Metal from the driver's side airbag struck him in the neck, according to a police report cited in a lawsuit filed by Solis' family. When Solis bought the vehicle in April 2014 at a used-car dealership near Houston, neither Honda nor the dealer notified him that it had been recalled in 2011 for suspect Takata airbag inflators. Solis' car was again recalled last June, but when he crashed last month, Honda still hadn't mailed him his recall notice.

Solis' death is under investigation in Texas, but it seems clear that the U.S. auto recall system failed him, as it has failed others before. ... That's unacceptable.
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The ongoing recall of Takata airbags in 14 million U.S. vehicles, plagued by a shortage of replacement parts for months, undercuts consumer confidence in auto safety. It highlights the shortcomings of today's recall system.

It's time for the auto industry to use its lobbying muscle to push for comprehensive reform legislation. ... There must be no more cases like that of Carlos Solis.

[Catherine Vincent]

1. That's awful

The previous owners and the car dealer never informed Mr. Solis of the recall. I have relatives that purchase used cars often and should alert them to check if the car ever had any recalls. That's something to think about.

[still_one]

2. Actually the dealer is responsible. They are supposed to check and

Perform any recalls I thought