SAN ANTONIO – A lawsuit has been filed in connection with the fatal explosion at a home in Quemado involving an 18-wheeler that contained Takata air bag inflators.
The incident occurred Aug. 22 when investigators said the 18-wheeler, which contained a load of Takata air bag inflators, ran off the road, caught fire and exploded, killing Lucila Robles, 69. Investigators said the truck was also carrying a load of ammonium nitrate.
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Four other people were injured in the explosion, which also forced the closure of Highway 277 between Del Rio and Eagle Pass, in Maverick County.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday by a Houston attorney on behalf of Rene De Los Santos Olveda, one of the people injured in the explosion, against TK Holdings, Inc. and Takata de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
Faulty air bags made by the company have exploded, firing out shards of metal that have caused injuries and deaths. At the heart of the problem is degradation of the chemical propellant in the air bags' inflators, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration..
The Japanese company has been plagued by lawsuits and recalls in connection with their air bag products over the past few years. A U.S. recall of Takata airbags was the largest in history, affecting 35 million to 40 million units. The resulting scandal has sent their stock plummeting, and industry experts predict the company will face bankruptcy.
Thursday's lawsuit alleged that due to Olveda's proximity to the blast, he sustained a blast induced concussion and has suffered permanent hearing loss.
"We know from other litigation that Takata has manufactured off-spec ammonium nitrate in the past and shipped it to customers. Ammonium nitrate that is low in density is more susceptible to detonate and is classified as an explosive," attorney Mo Aziz said in a statement.