TORONTO – A family in Cornwall, Ont., believes their son’s death in October 2012 was caused in part by General Motors’ ignition switch recall.
Twenty-two-year-old Nick Baker was driving his 2006 Saturn when he crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a pickup truck. His airbag did not deploy and his injuries were severe.
A letter addressed to Nick arrived at his parents’ house on March 31, 2014. It was a recall notification from GM that his car was subject to the ignition switch recall, which has been linked to 13 deaths, including a 2013 crash involving a Quebec resident.
READ MORE: Many victims of the GM recall were young drivers
According to a release from the family’s lawyer, Russel Molot, the letter from GM stated; “There is a risk, under certain conditions, that your ignition switch may move out of the ‘run’ position, resulting in a partial loss of electrical power and turning off the engine. The risk increases if your key ring is carrying more weight (such as more keys or the key fob) or your vehicle experiences rough road conditions or other jarring or impact related conditions. If the ignition switch is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury or fatality.”
Nick’s parents, Suzanne and Danny Baker, are now suing GM for wrongful death and punitive damages.
On Wednesday, Global News confirmed the identity of Quebec victim Dany Dubuc-Marquis, who in the early morning hours of June 22, 2013, lost control of his 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt.
Transport Canada said in an email that in the June 2013 collision, the air bags did not deploy when the car went off the road and hit multiple trees in the crash. They also said the “sole occupant” was not wearing a seatbelt.
The department said data showed the key in the car moved out of the normal ‘run’ position and into the ‘accessory’ position after leaving the road, and suggested in an email this means there may be “various contributing causes” for the crash.
READ MORE: Quebec man identified as Canadian victim linked to GM recall
“The investigation is now looking at how the key moving out of the ‘run’ position during the event influenced the operation of the air bags,” said the statement.
Transport Canada said this week it’s in communication with GM Canada regarding its future plans to “ensure that the identified defect in these vehicles is going to be remedied as quickly as possible.”
Despite GM’s acknowledgement of 13 related deaths, others have a higher total, with the majority of victims under age 25. Many also were women, who safety experts say are less likely to have the upper body strength to wrestle a stalled car safely to the side of the road.
-With files from The Associated Press and Erika Tucker.
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