A 33-year-old mother died in a rollover crash in her recalled 2010 Toyota Highlander. Police said speed was a contributing factor to the crash that killed Dawn Casey. Although police are still investigating, family members are not sure if her recalled SUV is to blame. Her two toddlers managed to survive the accident.
The wreck happened Thursday in the 3300 block of North Tarrant Parkway in far north Fort Worth.
Witnesses and family members told investigators that Casey was on her way to teach daycare at a local church when her Toyota Highlander swerved into the center median, then swereved back into the lanes of traffic. She then swerved into a ditch before hitting a concrete barrier.
Casey’s 1-year-old son Liam and 3-year-old daughter Adia were in the back row of the SUV in car seats. Both survived with minor injuries.
The 2010 Toyota Highlander is under recall for problems with floor mats that can interfere with the accelerator. I previously reported about the Toyota accelerator problems HERE and HERE. Police are focusing on why the SUV was going so fast, but they don’t yet know if vehicle malfunction or driver error is to blame.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective vehicle, call my office today at 817-885-8000 to discuss your case. In order to make a successful claim against the vehicle manufacturer, a thorough investigation of the vehicle is needed to preserve the evidence.