Associated Press, "Lawsuit blames tire in Los Angeles freeway crash that killed five"

          A lawsuit claims a defective tire caused a pickup truck crash on a Southern California freeway that killed five family members. The suit, filed Tuesday in federal court, accuses Continental Tire North America Inc. of wrongful death, negligence, product liability and breach of implied warranty. It was filed on behalf of two women whose mother, father and 4-year-old brother died in the March 15 crash.
          Two others died and two children were hurt when the 2000 Ford F-150 pickup went out of control on Interstate 10 in Ontario, struck a tree and then a wall. The cause of the crash remained under investigation but a left rear tire that lost its tread was taken by the California Highway Patrol for examination. "It's one of the factors being investigated," CHP Officer Sean Cooper said. The lawsuit claims the tire had a manufacturing defect, lost its tread and caused the crash.
          The tire, which was purchased new in March 2006, was the same size and type as the model that was recalled in 2002 because there was a chance that the tread could detach, said Federico Sayre, the attorney who filed the suit. The tire company, based in Charlotte, N.C., issued a statement saying its "thoughts and well wishes are with the families involved in the accident."