NHTSA updates fatality, injury numbers in Firestone recall

WASHINGTON (Aug. 31)—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has increased the number of deaths related to the Firestone ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT light truck tire investigation by 26, to 88, based on about 650 new complaints received by NHTSA since Aug. 15. The number of injuries reported more than doubled to 250 from 100. NHTSA said 11 of the new fatality reports came from a review of Firestone data, and are not listed on NHTSA´s database of the accidents at Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.´s request. Bridgestone/Firestone spokesmen declined to say why the company wished these data remain confidential.