Summary

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 75906
Story Slug FUEL TANK SAFETY (1994)
Location MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Format PKG
Date 11/16/1994
Archive Time 51:30
TRT 1:08
Supers MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN CLARENCE DITLOW, CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY KENT WAINSCOTT, REPORTING
Video Description (RACING FOOTAGE IS NOT LICENSABLE) CLOSE SHOT OF BURNED VAN; ACCIDENT SCENE, LONG SHOT OF BURNED VAN; VAN RAISED IN MAINTENANCE GARAGE; MECHANIC CHECKS FUEL TANK; RACING PIT CREW SURROUNDS RACER; RACE CAR CRASH; CREW CONNECTS BURNED VAN TO TOW TRUCK.
Script LEAD: THE WILLIS TRAGEDY HAS HIGHLIGHTED A CONTROVERSY THAT HAS RAGED FOR YEARS CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF AUTOMOBILE FUEL TANKS. KENT WAINSCOTT REPORTS. SCRIPT: THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY SAYS YESTERDAYS TRAGEDY ON THE INTERSTATE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE AUTO INDUSTRY HAD IMPROVED FUEL TANK SAFETY. CLARENCE ITLOW SAYS A BLADDER LINING IN THE TANK MIGHT HAVE KEPT IT FROM RUPTURING. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS MINIVAN AND ON MOST VEHICLES THE FUEL TANK IS EXPOSED AND CAN BE VULNERABLE TO RUPTURE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. FOR YEARS, THE CENTER HAS PUSHED AUTOMAKERS TO EQUIP THOSE TANKS WITH AN INNER LINING...A BLADDER. SIMILAR TO THE KIND USED ON RACE CARS WHICH CAN HELP PREVENT EXPLOSIONS OR FIRES EVEN IN THE MOST SEVERE CRASHES. DITLOW SAYS A BLADDER LINING IN THE GAS TANK COULD HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. SOT
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Keywords

DUANE WILLIS
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