A tire tread separation accident on Highway 99 at Avenue 20 1/2 in Madera County involving a 1998 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle (SUV) has killed Eleoterio Colohua Nezahuale, one of its five passengers, according to a news report in The Fresno Bee

The accident happened as the left rear tire of the Explorer separated, causing the driver to lose control. This is a common Ford Explorer rollover phenomenon. It has happened hundreds if not thousands of times.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Ronnie Lopez said the SUV spun, rolled over and came to a stop on the dirt shoulder of the highway. Nezahuale, a 45 –year-old Fresno resident who was reportedly traveling in the rear cargo area, without a seat belt, was ejected from the SUV. He was the only fatality in this accident. The other five people in the SUV, whose identities are not revealed, had worn their seat belts. The report did not state whether they suffered any injuries.

Based upon our experience with Ford Explorer tire separation, rollover accident cases, this accident was not the fault of the driver. Most likely, this accident was the fault of one or more of the following, the tire manufacturer, seller, installer and/or Ford Motor Company.

Car, SUV and truck tire defects and failures are a common precursor to rollover accident. This is especially true in top heavy, rollover prone SUVs such as the Ford Explorer, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet Blazer and 15-passenger vans..

A Chicago Sun-Times article , published earlier this year revealed that tire manufacturers have known of specific tire tread separation risks of their products but do not take adequate steps to protect or warn the motoring public nor inform federal safety officials of their knowledge.

The families of the accident victims should consult a well-qualified personal injury attorney experienced in Ford Explorer tire separation, rollover accident cases, at once. The accident scene, the tire and the Explorer must be thoroughly examined by an expert for every bit of evidence necessary to determine the cause of this fatal traffic accident.

The best tire separation, rollover accident law firms will provide a free consultation to accident victims and their family. They will also conduct an analysis of the crash without any upfront cost to their clients in order to determine who is responsible.

Please visit this Web site http://www.smartmotorist.com/driving-guideline/when-tires-fail.html for detailed information on tire failure and causes.