A 72-year-old man identified as Walter Otto Herbeck was killed in a car accidents after the Ford Explorer SUV in which he was riding crashed on the Interstate 5 in Frazier Park. The Mountain Enterprise reports that the fatal car collision involved a Ford Ranger pickup truck and a Ford Explorer. The driver of the Ranger, 27-year-old Anthony Templeton Jr., lost control of the pickup, which then went across lanes and struck the Explorer, the afternoon of April 10, 2010. Both vehicle veered off the freeway and slid down a 25-foot embankment. The Explorer overturned several times. Herbeck was killed. The SUV's driver, 63-year-old William Wilhelm, sustained major injuries. The driver and passenger of the Ranger were not seriously injured.

Rollover Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rollover accidents cause significant death and devastation on the nation's roadways. The federal auto safety agency estimates that about 10,000 people die every year in rollover accidents nationwide. That number accounts for about 25 percent of all traffic accident fatalities in the country.

Auto Product Liability Issues

In this particular case, it is not clear exactly what caused Templeton to lost control of the pickup and crash into the Explorer. However, if I were a member of Herbeck's family, I would want to look into whether design defects and auto product defects in the Ford Explorer may have caused his fatal injuries. It also appears that Wilhelm was seriously injured. Were his injuries caused by poor vehicle design as well?

Ford SUVs -- specifically the Explorer, Expedition and Excursion models -- are notorious for going out of control and overturning even at low speeds. Because of their high center of gravity, these Ford SUVs are disproportionately prone to rollovers compared to other passenger vehicles. Roof crush is also a serious problem in these vehicles. What this means is when these SUVs roll over, the roof of the vehicle does not maintain its shape. It's so flimsy, poorly designed and constructed that it crushes the occupants of the vehicles, resulting in catastrophic or traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries.

In any car accident, it is always a good idea to preserve the vehicle so it can be carefully examined for product defects and other evidence. The best auto products liability attorneys will always offer a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation to injured victims and their families.

As a driver what type of precautions do you take in order to avoid car accidents?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Lawyer News." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.