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By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 21, 2001
In the wake of last summer's massive recall of Firestone tires, the St. Petersburg Times spent four months researching how many accidents in Florida involved sport utility vehicles -- particularly the popular Ford Explorer -- and Firestone tires. Details about the accidents were collected from information sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; six years of accident reports from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles that involved Ford Explorers and a tire problem; lawsuits filed across the state; and court documents filed as part of a class action lawsuit in federal court in Indianapolis. The Times also interviewed drivers, passengers, lawyers, consumer advocates and officials with both Ford Motor Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. Photos of victims were provided by family members and attorneys.
Articles by staff writer Anita Kumar. Research by news researcher Kitty Bennett
News art by staff artist Jeff Goertzen. Online graphical displays by Desiree Perry
Edited by Sherry Robinson and Richard Bockman.
Photographs by Dirk Shadd
Copy edited by Lisa Pelamati and Pete Couture.
Online design by Desiree Perry
Staff writers John Balz, Bryan Gilmer and Piper Jones Castillo contributed to this report
Staff members Acenett Peters and Alicia Olazabal interpreted interviews with Spanish-speaking victims
Additional news art by Don Morris