Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 11, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press sunday july 11, 2004 a3 Auto expert says Chrysler knew of dangerous flaw could fix have prevented paralysis a North american automotive expert claims Chrysler knew for years that the Lack of an inexpensive part was causing their minivans to unexpectedly shift into gear and Start moving the same prob Lem that apparently caused a 1998 caravan to run Over and cripple a heading Ley woman last year. Its the latest twist in the Saga of Darlene Hellerman who is paralysed from the Chest Down after a friends child bumped the gearshift of her vehicle. Now a second local woman claims she was injured this week trying to Stop her runaway Chrysler car. Phil Edmonston author of the Lemon Aid series of car guides says he was warning his readers about the problem As Early As 1998. Its not just a Canadian problem its an american problem too says Edmonston who is based in Florida. People have been complaining about this for a Long the caravan lacked a Brake shift interlock a device that prevents a car from slipping into gear unless the Brake is depressed at the same time the gearshift is moved. Chrysler began installing the devices on their 2001 models but never issued a recall of the older vehicles. There a no program to address this specific concern says Chrysler pub Lic relations representative Stuart Schorr. Other manufacturers including Ford began installing the devices in the Early 1990s. If Edmonston is right ? and he a got a pretty Good track record ? the com Pany has been receiving complaints about the problem for More than six years. He a certainly been writing about it that Long. But Schorr says the problem has never been a malfunction of Chrysler vehicles. If anything he says its a problem with Drivers. There has been pedal misapplication. People would put the car into drive and Nail the Gas. They would con fuse the Gas and Brake reminded that in Darlene Heller mans Case a minivan that was not run Ning was bumped into gear by a child who was not stepping on either the Gas or the Brake Schorr says the responsibility still rests with the Driver. They should not leave a child alone in the vehicle he said. Its clearly not a common occurrence. I just think peo ple need to be careful and not leave a key in the besides he says cases such As Hellerman a Are meanwhile Transcona resident Lori Hoskins is nursing bruises she says she got this week when her 2000 ply Mouth Breeze unexpectedly slipped into gear with her six year old son Brandon still inside. The car was parked and the keys were in her purse. I heard him screaming. I dropped the groceries i was carrying and just ran. I threw myself into the car. I a so grateful we weren to seriously Hurt. I just wonder How often this Hap pens Hoskins said. I guess we were just the . National Highway traffic safety administration website says an american recall for the Breeze and several other models manufactured Between 1993 and 1999 was issued in january. Hoskins called her dealer ship which will be fixing her car next week. According to the Nitsa website on certain passenger vehicles the floor shifter ignition Park interlock May fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the Park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock May also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the Park position. Either circumstance May result in the vehicle rolling away without Schorr says the recall was done to make the shifter More the recall is Small Comfort to Hoskins who is Only grateful she was Able to move quickly enough to Avert tragedy. When i think about that poor woman Hellerman and think about my son being in the car it just makes me realize what could have Hellerman and her husband Are frustrated that Manitoba Public insurance corporation act rules prevent them from suing Chrysler. They say Cash can to give her Back her legs. They just want to Call Public attention to the missing interlock. They believe there should be a recall of older minivans ? vehicles sold As Safe family transportation ? to install the devices. Mph could sue on their behalf but has chosen not to. An Mph spokesman said earlier this week that Hellerman will receive up to $3.5 million in care in her lifetime Likely More than shed get from a court settlement. Transport Canada did to make the Brake shift interlock devices mandatory until 2003. According to a report found by Edmonston Chrysler dealers were told that 135,000 owners manuals distributed in 2000 caravans indicated the vehicles had the devices when they did not. Chrysler a advice dealers were told to mail a self sticking Label to vehicle owners and Tell them to slap it Over the misinformation. Darlene Hellerman and now Lori Hoskins Are left wondering just How loud someone has to complain before they re heard. Hellerman will live with the effects of the rollaway minivan for the rest of her life. Hoskins is grateful her injuries will fade. fire costs expected to reach $2 million residents escape harm in spectacular Friday Blaze the roof was on by Jason Bell p the residents of 68 Niagara St. Were too distraught to talk to reporters yes Eter Forster watched in Shock Ter Day. Yesterday As investigators Stephanson said he had the grim combed the charred remains of task of informing the owners of 70 his stately River Heights Home ? one Niagara St. ? the Kinsman family of three ravaged by fire late Friday away on vacation in Chicago. Night. It was awful. They had to hear it the Blaze Tore through three Homes from me on the phone he said. Its on Niagara Street and spread to hous hard to imagine what they Are going is on either Side. About 40 firefight through. These Are Beautiful Homes ers and More than 25 emergency and they be lost so vehicles were sent to Battle the fire. Some Neighbours said Manitoba none of the residents was injured. Hydro Crews had been out to the area two firefighters suffered heat Early Friday morning to work on exhaustion while another suffered Power lines. Smoke inhalation. They were treated a Hydro spokeswoman could to con and released from Hospital. Two oth firm that information late yesterday. Ers had cuts that were treated at the two garages were also destroyed scene. And three vehicles were left blackened preliminary estimates set the dam almost beyond recognition. Age at $2 million. Insurance adjusters spent hours at fire officials said yesterday the the scene talking to residents and cause of the Blaze is still under invest assessing damage. Ligation although a police press Ron Yurman lives on Waterloo release indicated faulty wiring May Street across the Back Lane from the be to blame. Scorched Homes. Its pretty Well a dead loss said a House for 31 years so its got the acc he said the loud Bangs were like tearful Forster of the couples Home. Mutated stuff of 31 years that can to be by vehicle fuel tanks exploding. The i a numb. Every now and then i replaced. Blaze was like something out of break Down because i can to believe but we re both Safe. That a the movie he added. Forster a retired University of Man main flames were jumping and Power Toba architecture professor said he Neighbours say the fire started near lines were popping. It was the fourth and his wife Liivi saw through their the garage behind 68 Niagara St. Of july All Over again said a grim window someone motioning frantic Al there was a loud crash at about faced Yurman. By for them to get out of their House. 10 15 . I thought it was a car Acci a woman who answered the door at he said they got out just As flames Dent on Wellington said Scott 72 Niagara St., who would to give her began jumping to their rooftop at 66 Stephanson who dialled 911 and then name said she was indebted to fire Niagara St. Evacuated his wife and three children Crews for saving her firefighter ran inside to save their from 62 Niagara St. I a just so glad everyone Sok cat before the rear of the two Storey fire trucks were Here right away. She said. Firefighters did an Excel Home became engulfed in flames. That place no. 68 was engulfed and Lent Job. It could have been so much its a write off i think Forster then the other one no. 66 caught fire said with the smell of smoke still right away. We thought the Brick one hanging in the air. We lived in the no. 70 would have been of but then. Hoskins with six year old son Brandon received bruises in mishap ;