Truck Carrying Exploding Takata Airbag Parts Explodes, Kills One Person

The Takata airbag recall began all the way back in 2014, when the dangerously defective combination of propellant and assembly became clear. The shrapnel-shooting airbags have been linked to at least 14 deaths so far. Earlier this month, they sadly claimed a 15th life — but not of anyone who was driving or even inside of a vehicle.

As Reuters reports, earlier this month a truck in Texas was hauling Takata airbag parts when it exploded, incinerating a nearby home and killing a woman. Although the incident occurred on Aug. 22, Takata only confirmed it today.

More: 6 things that led to Takata’s massive airbag disaster

The truck, Takata said, was carrying airbag inflators and propellants containing ammonium nitrate — the explosive chemical that the company said in 2015 it would phase out of new production. It was headed from a Takata factory in Mexico to a plant in Eagle Pass, TX and was being driven by a subcontractor.

“Takata immediately deployed personnel to the site and has been working closely with the subcontractor and the appropriate authorities to investigate this incident,” the company said in a statement.

Truck carrying Takata air bag inflators causes blast in U.S., one killed [Reuters]

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