Death Toll Linked To Firestone Rises

America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Agency has reported an additional 29 deaths, linked to allegedly faulty Firestone tyres, since the agency last reported figures, back in mid-October. This brings the total of such fatalities to 148 and the number of injuries to 525. Bridgestone/Firestone said that the voluntary recall of the 6.

5 million tyres, started in August, was now 85% complete. However, in a potentially worrying development, five of the latest deaths involved Firestone tyres not included in the recall, but which the NHTSA, on September 1st, had requested be recalled. Bridgestone/Firestone agreed to replace these tyres free of charge to those customers who asked for replacement, but would not include the estimated 1.

4 million tyres in the recall. The latest crop of figures could add fuel to calls from consumer groups in the US to expand the scope of the recall. A statement from Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.

said that it took every incident reported to the NHTSA very seriously. The statement went on: “We continue to work diligently toward completion of the recall and to determine the root cause or causes of the problems related to a small percentage of our tyres.” The NHTSA hopes to end its investigation within three months and it has the power to widen the recall if it deems such an action necessary.