Local couple allege defective tires caused accident

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000 | 10:49 a.m.

A Clark County couple has filed a lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. over an August accident they claim resulted from a tire defect.

According to the lawsuit filed Monday in District Court, Jo Anne Buchanan was driving southbound on Interstate 15 Aug. 6 when the tread on her left rear tire separated, causing her to lose control and crash her 1996 Ford Explorer.

Another tire, which also came from the Firestone ATX series, did the same thing a year earlier, the lawsuit alleges.

Buchanan and her husband, John, claim the Ford Motor Co. and Firestone were aware of similar accidents as early as 1990. The companies recalled thousands of tires that were sold outside the U.S., but failed to tell American consumers the tires were defected and needed to be replaced, the lawsuit alleges.

Also named in the lawsuit are Ford, Gaudin Ford, Jaguar, Porsche and Ted Wiens Tire and Auto Center.

A Bridgestone/Firestone spokeswoman said this morning that company policy prohibits her from commenting on pending litigation.

Bridgestone/Firestone recalled 6.5 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires in August after thousands of people reported problems with the tires. More than 100 deaths have been attributed to accidents caused by the tires.