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MIAMI - A jury ordered the Ford Motor Co. to pay more than $61-million to the family of a 17-year-old who was killed in a rollover that occurred when his friend dozed off behind the wheel of a 1996 Explorer.
The company plans to appeal, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.
"This tragic accident occurred when the driver of the vehicle fell asleep at the wheel while traveling at highway speeds," Ford spokeswoman Karen Shaughnessy said.
Lance Crossman Hall's family said Ford knew that the Explorer was prone to rollovers and failed to warn consumers.
Hall was reclining in the front passenger seat and wearing his seat belt when the Explorer rolled over four times on State Road 93 in Collier County on April 20, 1997. He was ejected and died at the scene.
The driver, Melahn Parker, was charged with careless driving.